Chapter Text
Dr.teals bath salts invaded her senses as soon as she walked into the bathroom- candles lit the dark room, scattered across the sink and the tub making a warm atmosphere.
Liv was on the floor next to the bathtub, scrolling on her phone with a focused expression on her face when Rhea noticed the fairy lights haphazardly taped to the wall. It was a cute attempt that made her crack and chuckle, giving up her position
“So uh… if you wanted some princess treatment you just had to ask,” Rhea teased, walking further into the bathroom.
Liv turned around, hiding her phone when she heard her laugh, her eyes wide in what Rhea first thought was only shock that she was home early but the longer she didn’t say anything the longer she started to think maybe she should have knocked…
She cleared her throat,”I’ll-“ she gave a reassuring smile,”I’ll leave you to it-“
“You aren’t supposed to be home yet,” Liv cut her off , making her pause in her exit.
“Why’s it matter?” Rhea shrugged, trying to put livs worries at ease….. for some reason it only made it worse and Liv huffed,”Cause this was supposed to be a surprise!”
Rhea relaxed and gave a laugh,”Liv, honey, it still is! All we gotta do is get you-“
But Liv seemed to be having none of it and stood up,”out! Get out- I’ll call you in,” she pushed her out of the bathroom, giving a quick kiss that made Rhea chuckle, holding her hands up in mock surrender,”ok! Jeez-“
The door shut in her face and she sighed. Her little fire cracker was adorable and weird in all the best ways. She acted as if Rhea hadn't seen her naked hundreds of times.
“I coulda helped, y'know," Rhea called through the door before sighing and waiting on the bed. She’d spent all day with the press, doing signings until her wrists hurt. She tightened the wrist brace she had on, the memory enough to make it ache again.
She just wanted to lay down with her girlfriend and forget about the day she had. Of grabby fans , uninformed reporters- just the worst of the worst. Her body shivers at the memory of that one perv getting escorted out for trying to cop a feel- something she’d never tell Liv unless she wanted a murderous rampage.
It ruined the day for her, if she was being honest… it wasn’t as bad as it felt, but after that her nerves had jumped through the roof but she was still obligated to take pictures and talk to strangers all day…
Letting her body melt into the mattress she let herself imagine Liv getting in the tub for them to share a nice break. She couldn’t wait to spoil her girl.
It was cute how Liv still wanted to pretend it was something new when they did it every week.. well… it was special, Rhea wasn’t giving it enough credit. It was their time for each other.
Just them. No media, no reporters. Them.
The warm water, the bubbles, getting to hold liv like she was her own… It was therapy. Rhea felt useful.
What felt like hours passed until the door opened and Liv stood there- still dressed with a smile on her face that screamed tender and it made rheas muscles relax partially on instinct,”it’s ready for you”
“You mean us,” Rhea corrected, chuckling at her girl. She got out of bed and stretched out her back, hearing a pleasant pop and heading over, giving her girl a chaste kiss to the lips,”…thank you”
Liv returned it, her hands going to rub rheas arms- the same ones she constantly babbled out and Rhea flexed for her,”I wanna try something new tonight” Liv murmured, still focused more on her arms then her face.
“Oh?” Rhea tilted her head, letting Liv walk them to the bubble filled bath. She felt Liv's hands sliding under her shirt, pulling it up as Rhea let her, leaving her in only her sports bra.
“Mhm… I wanna…” Liv paused, trying to get her words together and Rhea smiled, kissing her forehead,”you can tell me anything, Liv… worst I’ll do is laugh”
Liv pouted,”yeah, exactly,”
“Aww, come on, don’t you love my laugh?” Rhea egged her on, pulling her close by the waist. Liv grumbled under her breath and Rhea knew she won,”…I wanna spoil you tonight.”
“Oh.” Rhea blurted,”…why?”
She didn’t even mean to say it, she was just so thrown off the words came out. Why would Liv want to spoil her? Liv is the one who deserved it. That’s why Rhea did it almost every night, making sure her girl felt spoiled and loved and worshiped.
“I don’t need it, Livvie, I’m happy just-“
“Can you let me finish?” Liv cut her off, clearly unhappy. They stared at each other for a long second and Rhea nodded sheepishly,”sorry.”
“Good,” Liv stared a little longer before pulling her in by the jeans and unbuckling her belt, unbuttoning her jeans,”I want to spoil you(“ she repeated,”and no, not because I wanna return the favor or whatever- because I want to… I’ve been… thinking about it… about you… how you always take control and- and I want you to be able to just… relax for once.”
Rhea… didn’t know what to say. She was the eradicator for a reason- she was mami. Of course she was always in control, it was in her nature…
“What did you do?” Rhea asked half playfully and half suspiciously, narrowing her eyes. There had to be some anterior motive here, no one just wanted to spoil Rhea, it always came with something. Everyone knows Rhea wasn’t one to be pampered.
But Liv looked offended and scoffed, forcefully pushing her pants down,”Why can’t I just want to care about you, Rhea? Why is that so hard for you to understand?”
Liv grabbed her face, squeezed her cheeks to pull her down so they were eye level,”Rhea Ripley- Please… please just let me show you… you show me every day- you always do everything for me and I just… please let me make you feel good for once…”
Silence. Rhea didn’t know what to say- but what she did know is that last part didn’t sit well with her at all. . “…I always feel good with you, liv… why do you say that??” She murmured, trying to turn the tides a bit into familiar territory, her hands sliding up livs sides only to get intercepted and caught
“It’s not about that- I mean…. You never just let me care for you, you always put on that stupid mask and act like you don’t need after sex cuddles or you don’t want to cum- yeah, I know you faked it last week, don’t even try.”
“I-“
“And I’m not mad, ok? It’s fine- but I just wish you felt comfortable enough to just… I wanted to make you feel good too, Rhea. I know you have this weird complex where your needs don’t matter to me or whatever but they do! And I-… fuck, Rhea, I’m tired of you hiding from me…”
“I’m not hiding-“
“Oh yes you are! You agree to be on bottom and then an hour later who’s still playing dom? You. you never just let me take control- is it me?”
“No! No- it’s never you-“ Rhea began to panic,”Liv, please- no. It’s not about that it’s just… it’s not really my thing-“
“Bullshit,” even if the word was rushed and brash, Rhea heard the desperation,”Rhea- I know you. You melt when I praise you-“
“No I don’t-!” She denied maybe a little too loudly
“You never let yourself take a break, Rhea, you’re going to run yourself into the ground-“
“Liv-“ she threatened
“No- enough. Stop trying to deny it. Rhea you never take a damn break, you haven’t since you got that stupid championship-“
“It’s not stupid-“ Rhea growled, bristling as Liv insulted her championship. She’d been working for years to get that belt- YEARS. And she’d be damned if she let anyone try and take away that achievement.
Rhea watched liv snap out of it and step back only half a step,”“Ok! Ok… I know that,” she sighs,”I didn’t mean that, im sorry… but it’s true, Rhea… your running yourself into the ground…I’m worried about you…,” she ran her hands down to takes rheas, and Rhea gulped at the soft touch and the look on liv’s face.
“I-I’m.. not…” Rhea whispered, her voice dying in her throat. She didn’t realize she was putting this much pressure on Liv. She didn’t mean to ever be the source of livs stress-
She tried to keep herself together. She tried to show up to meets, matches- everything with a smile but deep down? She was horrified. She had what she always wanted. The belt. A girlfriend- she never wanted to lose them and maybe she was far too focused on how to keep them both and didn’t even realize what she’s been doing to liv…
“I’m… I… I just.. I’m trying to keep- keep everything together,” Rhea didn’t even know what she was saying at this point, just desperate to get that hurt look out of liv’s eyes,”They gave me a raise with the belt and I… I’m trying to save for us, Liv, I’m trying to make a future…”
And it was true. She hasn’t told Liv anything about her plan. Not yet. But she was saving up to get Liv the farm she always wanted… she didn’t have any of the logistics put together yet, but she was determined to get a house with the wrap around porch liv adores so much…
“Why does our future come at your expense, Rhea?” Liv whispered right back and Rhea gulped.
Liv sees it and her hands squeeze rheas, bringing the back of rheas right hand to her lips,”…just let me please give you a day off… just.. forget about the spoiling part. Think of it like self care… handled by your girlfriend. Just let me take care of you… you said you wanted me happy and this would make me the happiest girl in the world”
…what do you say to that?
“Rhea?” Livs voice cracked and Rhea took a loud deep breath, closing her eyes as she quietly admitted,”you’re gonna make me cry, livs”
Liv only laughed at her, her own voice cracking until she was silenced with a kiss from Rhea. Rhea exhaled, finally getting her emotions in control.
It took all of her willpower to do it… Rhea was a force of nature. The top of the women's division. The champion. But now?
Now she was weak.
“Ok.”
She could never say no to Liv. Not when she was begging… not when it was her fault she was so upset- not when it was her fault Liv felt obligated to do all this for her, wasting her time on making something sweet for someone who could never truly appreciate it…
Rhea wasn’t made for this. Not for the whole ‘taken care of’ thing. But for Liv? She’d try anything.
Liv's hands slid behind her, unclasping her bra and exposing her to the air… it was so tender- reverent.
The fabric fell from her body and against her will Rhea looked away. She couldn’t see that look in Liv's eyes; it didn't feel… natural.
Rhea wasn’t someone to be treated like this.
She gave others pleasure. She was admired from afar by people who would never get the chance. She gave Liv Morgan the worship she deserved.
Rhea was used to hunger. That’s the best she could describe Liv Morgan when the mood struck her. She was hungry. Desperate. Not… whatever this was…
Liv's hands stayed innocent the entire way of stripping Rhea of her remaining clothes, pulling her to the bath,”Here,” Liv guided her into the bath, holding her hand for support. Rheas never felt so cared for…
It was confusing.
She sank down into the burning water that eased her muscles and found herself sighing. Yeah… that felt good. She hummed for a second before realizing Liv hasn’t joined her yet.
When she looked up she froze. Liv was staring at her, a warm smile on her face. The same one she gave her dogs when they were cute. The same one she gave when Rhea asked if she wanted to date her officially.
She was also very much still dressed.
“A-aren’t-“ Rhea cleared her throat, distracting herself with sinking under the bubbles to maybe attempt for some dignity,”aren’t you coming in too?”
Liv only shook her head, seemingly brought out of her thoughts. Instead of an answer, Liv just leaned down and kissed Rhea temple then leaned back. She sat herself on the closed toilet seat, taking her phone from the sink and hitting a button-
Motionless in white started to play. The soft acoustic playlist filled the room and Rhea sunk lower into the bath, her eyes wide and staring at Liv.
She didn’t know why this made her feel so…
That was her calm down playlist- the one Liv helped her make.
Her chest hurt and she didn’t know why.
Anxiety? It didn’t feel like it but it did at the same time-
She was shy.
Rhea bloody Ripley felt shy and fucking embarrassed, biting her lip like a school girl and trying to hide the heat on her cheeks with her hair.
No one…
No one’s ever done this for her. Nothing even close. A bath? Candles? Her favorite calm down playlist? All of this just for her to feel better…
It was romantic and sweet and nothing that Rhea deserved to have.
“…you ok?” Liv asked, her voice filed with gentle concern… filled with care.
Rhea didn’t want to look at her,”I’m fine,” she forced out, her hands under the water picking at the bath mat, trying desperately to distract herself from the vulnerability.
That was the word.
Vulnerability.
She’d been naked in front of Liv before. Too many times to count, at this point. But she’s always been in control. They’ve been together for five months now, and that was including their will they won’t they faze because let’s face it, it was always a will they.
In that time, Rhea was always the one in charge. Always the dominant, the final say. She was in charge; it was just a fact of their relationship.
This?
She hasn’t so much as let Liv touch her because she got off on giving instead of taking. She wasn’t a receiver…
Livs tried… and Rhea feels bad after the fact every time for lying. For saying she could do it but backing out like a coward. She just couldn’t.
At least Liv enjoyed herself at the end each time, Rhea made sure of that. It was a good distraction.
Surrendering wasn’t her. Giving herself up- opening herself up for the possibility Liv doesn’t like what she sees?
It terrified her.
Not only for fear of Liv not wanting her…
But what she’d learn about herself.
She’s never tried it. Never wanted to. Never considered it. Hell, until two years ago she didn’t even consider herself attractive until her social status started blowing up and her career shot to the moon. She’s only been with one guy before and let’s just say it wasn’t pleasant.
…then there’s Liv Morgan. The most beautiful woman Rheas ever seen… looking at her as if she was the prize.
As if Rhea was the one to admire.
It was so wrong.
It made Rhea’s skin itch…
She sunk deeper into the water, at least trying to let her sore muscles relax.
If she just ignored Liv it would surely be fine…
“Baby?”
Damn it. “…yeah?” God her voices sounded so weak
“…You know I care about you, right?”
That gave Rhea pause and she looked up to see her fully,”I… care about you too… what’s wrong?” Rhea sat up in the tub, water dripping from her hair
Liv shook her head,”no- nothing's wrong. I just wanted to know you knew I cared about you.”
“…why ?” Rhea found herself asking a second time tonight. This was so backwards,”are you cheating on me?”
She was only half joking.
“What?! No!” Liv all but screeched, personally offended and visibly upset now,”for fucks sake Rhea why can’t I just love you without there having to be a reason?! This is exactly what I’m talking about, Rhe! You can’t just accept the fact I care about you and want to. I choose to be here, hon… I’m not forced to be. I want to be with you… please, what do I have to do so you know that?”
Rhea sunk back into the water until her chin was submerged, shame filling her chest. She hates making Liv upset. Everything she did was to keep Liv happy and she still came up short…
“I’m sorry,” she tried to sound as sincere as she felt, half hiding in the water now. was it childish? Probably. She admits it…
Liv sighs, her hand going through her hair,”…no.. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have snapped at you like that”
Rhea shook her head, putting herself back into the moment. Liv was apologizing to her?
Everything was wrong.
“You- Livvie, it’s fine.., you didn’t do anything wrong,” she tried to give her a reassuring smile she hoped didn’t look as forced as it was.
Liv just sighed again- maybe the hundredth time tonight already- and turned the music up a bit, sliding off the toilet lid and crouching next to the tub
“Are you coming in…?” Rhea asked the wall, apparently, because Liv doesn’t answer, instead her hand carded through rheas hair, her eyes meeting hers and Rhea didn’t know what to do.
Liv was looking at her with such… she didn’t even know. Her eyes were soft, a small frown on her face. Was she disappointed?
“…are you mad at me?” Rhea asked quietly, humiliating herself with how fucking basic and pathetic she sounded.
Liv frowned deeper, her hand sliding down to cup her cheek and against Rheas better judgment, she leaned into it. Liv leaned closer and Rhea felt her shoulders relax from the tension she didn’t even know she had. They kissed languidly, rheas hand coming out of the water to hold livs head in place
She let out a pitiful sound of contentment when Liv scratched the back of her neck. When they separated for air, livs hands slid to hold rheas chin with both hands. She was cupping her face and holding it up while Rhea melted into her touch, practically drunk form the kiss.
“Why would I be mad?” Liv murmured, giving her another kiss. Rhea hummed, seperating to mumble,”I dunno.”
Liv giggled at her and Rhea smiled at the beautiful sound. God she loved that sound. “So then I’m not mad, right?” She teased.
Rhea hummed, pulling liv closer until she was forced to lean over the bathtub edge so they could continue kissing- only for Liv to seperate them, her hand on rheas bare chest, trailing over the wings on her collar,”guess not..”
But that still didn’t make her feel much better.
It still felt like Liv was hiding something- and it just didn’t sit right with her. This came out of nowhere- the sudden gentle treatment. They had this dynamic since the beginning, Rhea on top, Liv happy to watch her girlfriend take charge. It was how they worked.
Changing the script so out of nowhere was still making her feel off kilter.
Liv moved away, giggling at her when Rhea tried to follow, held back by livs perfect hand,”Just relax, baby.”
She obeyed without question, sighing dramatically like it was a chore but the warm water was doing wonders for her sore back.
“There you go,” Liv cooed, making Rhea sink lower into the water, hiding as much as possible without drowning herself. Liv’s nails found her scalp and Rhea was thankful she was underwater so her hum of approval was at least slightly muffled
Fuck why was she fighting this again?
“Do you like it?” Liv’s calm voice breaks the silence and Rhea opens her eyes,”hm?”
Liv let out a small laugh that made Rhea smile,”Do you like the surprise?”
Rhea chuckled and shrugged a shoulder,”mm… I dunno.. would be better with you in here with me-“
“Uh uh,” liv tapped her finger to rheas nose,”You’re being pampered tonight, no counter offers, no bribery- tonight I’m taking care of you.”
Rhea exhaled, the thoughts coming back but the smile just can’t leave her face. Even when she started to doubt herself… Liv’s smile was just so genuine,”thank you, Livvie.”
“…I love you”
“What?”
Water splashed out of the tub as Rhea sat up, looking at Liv with wide eyes. They haven’t used the big L word once- well- now they have- Livvie did-
Liv just said I love you.
To HER.
…Liv loves her…
“S-say that again,” she whispered, not caring anymore how desperate she sounds or that her entire torso is open to the freezing air. She sat on her knees in the water, leaning over the cold porcelain to hold Liv’s face
Liv’s face was flushed and Rhea was enraptured. She could tell Liv didn’t mean to say it… she pressed their lips together before she can answer.
“Fuck, Livvie-“
“I love you,” Liv repeated, pushing Rhea down by the shoulders so she sits on her heels. The sudden action paired with the proclamation make Rhea al but putty, sitting back like Liv wanted without a struggle.
Liv was smiling at wide goofy one Rhea so rarely gets to see and she couldn’t help but beam right back at her. She felt her face splitting into the rare expression but sue her-
She’s dating a goddess.
A laugh of pure giddy excitement made its way out of Rhea and she knew better than to try and stop the words she’s been obsessing over leave her lips “I love you too,”
As they kissed, their hands getting more… explorative… Rhea couldn’t help but soften.
Maybe being vulnerable wasn’t all that bad after all…