#daniel wheeler

As they moved through the fairly large venue, Y/N kept glancing around nervously, but thankfully, there was no sign of her ex. Slightly calmer now, she asked, "How did you even end up here?" "You don’t know what’s going on here at all?" Daniel replied with a smirk, answering her question with another. "To be honest? Not really. I was assigned a shift, given a location, and told what to do. I didn’t ask any more questions."

As they continued walking, Y/N noticed familiar logos—and soon after, familiar voices. "Wait… is this like, some kind of fan booths, and you're here for work?" The realization hit her as unexpectedly as their chance meeting among hundreds of people. "Gosh, I'm sorry for distracting you. You probably have a lot to do, despite saving some damsel in distress."

Wheeler stopped, gently took her hand, and turned her toward him. He leaned in slightly, locking eyes with her. "First of all, you are not just any damsel in distress. And secondly, if you ever need someone to help you, save you, or just be by your side and listen—whatever it is—you've got me. Or Dax."

Their gazes met. In Wheeler’s eyes was unwavering certainty in every word he’d said. Despite her long disappearance, he was still ready to be there. His strong yet gentle hand held hers, offering warmth and comfort. "Thank you. I appreciate that. A lot." And she really meant it.

She was about to step forward and hug Daniel when a male voice with a clear accent called out to her. "Y/N? Long time no see! How are you?" Without realizing it, Y/N let go of their joined hands and slipped back into her mask of confidence. "Oh my god, Steve! I’m doing great. Thank you." They hugged like old friends who hadn’t seen each other in ages.

Daniel was surprised to see Y/N addressing none other than Nigel McGuinness so casually by his real name. "You two know each other? I didn’t think you were ever into wrestling," Daniel said, clearly taken aback. "Oh, I never was," the girl chuckled. "We have our ways." "You never stop surprising me. Seriously, every single time." "I hope only in a good way."

Nigel and Y/N exchanged playful smiles before finally breaking apart. "C’mon, the guys want to say hi to an old friend too."

Cash stood alone, stunned. "What the…" was all he managed to mutter. "What the… what?" Harwood asked, approaching his friend. There was a rare look of confusion on Daniel’s face. "What happened?"

Daniel briefly explained how he ended up there with Y/N and how she had addressed Nigel. "So you don’t know? I thought she already told you," David said quietly. "Told me what? What am I supposed to know?" The situation was getting even more confusing. Dax raised his hands and shrugged apologetically. "If she hasn't told you yet, it's not my place to speak. It's not my story. She'll tell you when she's ready."

Y/N spent some time catching up with her friends before returning to her duties. Daniel watched her from afar, making sure everything was okay.

Later that evening, once her shift was finally over, Daniel gave Y/N a ride home from the venue. The car was silent until he turned on the radio. Slow jazz filled the space — unusual for both of them, but oddly soothing. Y/N closed her eyes, leaning back in the seat and letting the tension of the day melt away.

All this time, Wheeler avoided pressing her about what had happened and what exactly he had saved her from today. But a part of him kept circling back to the topic unconsciously.

Parking outside her house, he turned off the engine and turned to look at her, studying her relaxed expression. It seemed like she felt his gaze, because she opened her eyes, smiled faintly, and sat up. "Something wrong?" she asked, slightly anxious.

But Wheeler shook his head. "No. Everything’s fine."

Silence settled between them again.

"Don’t you want to know—" "Do you want to come in?" she interrupted unexpectedly.

They started speaking at the same time, neither hearing the other. Wheeler went first this time. "Sorry," he said softly. "You go ahead…" Y/N hesitated slightly, then repeated her offer in a quieter tone: "Maybe… you could come in? For tea or something. I’d like to treat you, as a thank-you for rescuing me today." She looked away awkwardly, losing confidence with every word. "He wouldn’t turn down a little gratitude, right?" she wondered silently.

It was unusual to see her like this. In the short time they'd known each other, Y/N had always seemed cold and distant. Only rarely did those protective walls lower enough to reveal a sweet, sometimes vulnerable girl. And now, it seemed like one of those walls had developed a crack. And that was unlikely to end well.

From personal experience, Wheeler knew that when such walls finally collapse under pressure, they destroy everything alive inside. They bury it all beneath the rubble, leaving nothing but lifeless ruins. "I would love to," Daniel replied quickly, not giving himself time to think twice.

They both got out of the car and entered the quiet, peaceful house. "Come in, make yourself comfortable," Y/N said, stepping aside to let him in. "You must be hungry. You spent the whole day dealing with me and my problems, even though you didn’t have to."

Y/N headed to the kitchen, and Cash followed. He leaned forward on the table with his elbows. "Listen, I already said—it’s not a problem. But remember? You owe me one. You promised to explain what happened."

She sighed heavily, rubbing her temples. She didn’t want to revisit this, but she had no choice. "Fine. Then I’ll make us some tea and tell you. This isn’t quick."

Mercer brewed the tea and placed a steaming cup in front of Daniel. Sitting across from him, she began: "Today, I ran into my ex. His name is Josh. We were together since high school. At first, everything was innocent. He was caring, loving, supported me through panic attacks. But for some reason, my brother never liked him. I asked Scott many times why, but he never told me. It was almost like a feeling he had."

Y/N paused and took a sip from her cup. The tea burned her mouth, but continuing without interruption was harder. Wheeler reached out and covered her hand with his. "If you don’t want to keep going… it’s okay. You don’t have to." "No, no, no. I have to go on… So… Years passed, and I didn’t notice how things changed. Support disappeared. Care became a memory. I became convenient for him. It was easy for him to come home to a girlfriend who cooked for him, hugged him, gave affection, and never asked for anything in return. Maybe I wasn’t giving him what he needed, so he cheated on me. When I found out, it literally broke me. I felt worthless. I kept asking myself, 'What could I have done differently to fix things?'"

Wheeler wanted to say that cheating is always the fault of the person who does it—but he didn’t dare interrupt her, only tightening his grip on her hand. "When I confronted him directly, Josh said it was my fault—and he hit me. I still have the scar." Y/N lifted her shirt slightly, revealing the mark on her ribs. "I stayed alone with the thought that it was my fault, that things could be fixed. That went on until Scott came. Seeing me bruised, he nearly killed my ex. He took me and brought me here. Josh tried to reach out, but Scott insisted I change my number and block him everywhere. Things were calm for a while. But when the news about us started coming out, I got scared Josh might find me again—that’s why I left without telling anyone. I'm so sorry…"

Daniel could feel how much pain it caused her to remember. He saw the fire in her eyes, the trembling lips. It tore at his heart. He couldn’t understand how someone could hurt her like this. Y/N turned away to hide her tears. Daniel walked around the table, stepped closer, wrapped his arms around her, and began gently stroking her back. "I know. I’m sorry you had to go through this."

She allowed herself to relax in his arms and finally cried, releasing years of built-up pain. "Don’t hold back. You need this."

Strong, masculine arms holding her trembling body gave her a sense of safety and protection. For the first time in a long time, she felt that someone truly cared—not just about her presence, but about her feelings. And somehow, that was enough.

A ~ Affection (how affectionate are they? how do they show it? how do they respond to it?) Daniel always has his arm around you in some way. On a scale of 1-10: he broke the damn scale. You don’t mind it though, the feeling of his arms around you keeps you grounded. One of his favorite things is after a high-profile match, is how you’ll just wrap your arms around him from behind. No words need to be exchanged. Win or loss, the warmth of your soft skin makes him feel like he’s on top of the world.

B ~ Best Friend (what would they be like as a best friend? how would the friendship start?) David would jokingly be jealous that you’ve ‘stolen’ his best friend. He can’t be that mad because he was the one that introduced the to of you to each other. You are both a little more on the introverted side.

C ~ Cuddles (do they like to and how do they cuddle?) Daniel Marshall Wheeler is obsessed with cuddling with you. He loves having his arms around you; as I said before. Couch, bed, back of a car, on a blanket under the stars; you are nine times out of ten tucked beside him under his arm. He’ll always stroke your skin gently. He’s obsessed with that pudgy bit of tummy you have; it’s the most beautiful, adorable, and perfect thing ever to him. *we all have it and it's perfect, shut up* The little sigh that leaves your lips when he rubs your head makes his heart flutter like a little kid when his playground crush notices him. He prefers being the big spoon but won’t mind switching roles now and then. 

D ~ Dates (what is it like to go on a date with them? what do they like to do?) So parks dates are a must. He's a sucker for his best girl in a cute dress or skirt with a random shirt and one of his flannels over it, watching you pick flowers only to intertwine them to make a little flower crown for him. *let me know if yall want a fic of this*

E ~ Engagement (do they want to settle down? how long until yall tie the knot?) He's wanted to marry you since your third date. You were his dream girl. David had to talk him down a few times, saying it might be too soon. You and Daniel had talked about marriage before so he knew it was something you wanted. Nearing the end of your outing on your two year anniversary, that's when he *finally* popped the question.

F ~ Food (how well can they cook? what do they like that you’d make?) He is quite a great cook. You both enjoy cooking or even baking together. He will love pretty much anything you make. There's these special cut-out cookies you make for the holidays every year. The recipe was your grandmother's so you grew up with them every year. He loves decorating them with you and learning about your relationship with her; and how your cousin always gets a reindeer cookie.

G ~ Gentle (how gentle are they physically and emotionally?) He is prone to treating you like you're made of glass. When your relationship went public, there were some nasty things said about you. Daniel could see through your fake smile sometimes; he would ask passively so you wouldn't get upset. When you told him how some things cut deep, he had you sat on his lap with his arms around you as you cried it out and vented.

H ~ Hugs (do they like them? what are their hugs like? how often do you get them?) He could hug you forever. You could be talking to one of his co-workers and he would come up and just wrap his arms around you. When you need a hug for comfort, one hand would stroke your hair while the other rubbed your back. When it was him that needed comfort, his hands would go under your shirt to touch your bare skin. Not in a sexual way; in a, as he puts it, "the feel of your skin helps me remember you're real" way.

I ~ “I Love You” (who said it first? how was it said? how often?) Daniel said it first...On accident. You had been dating for 3 months already when he had his match against David for the tournament. He was planning on telling you the next day when you went on your usual breakfast date. Right before he went out: - “You’re going to do amazing, baby. I’ll be watching right here.” you told him before you kissed his cheek for luck. his adrenaline was already high so without thinking, he cupped your cheek and kissed you gently. when he pulled back, much to your disappointment, he whispered “I love you, Y/N. A lot.” your hand held his wrist as you smiled. “I love you too, Daniel. A lot” - He tells you he loves you 25/8. Any chance he gets. Not just verbally. Little notes or gestures speak for themselves. 

J ~ Jealousy (how jealous do they get and what do they do?)  You wouldn't notice when someone was flirting with you because it was just a known thing that you were in love with Daniel. He knows how much you love him, but that doesn't stop the back brain thought of someone trying to take you. One night, Sammy Guevara had gotten a little too close to you. If it was just talk from some guy, he could just tell them to back off. But, the little twerp had his hand on the small of your back. Daniel had seen red and pulled you away from him. The kid tried running his mouth and you had to step between them to prevent a fight.

K ~ Kisses (what are they like? favorite place to kiss you. where do they like to be kissed?) Kissing Daniel is like a princess kissing her prince in a Disney movie. Time slows, sparks fly, fireworks go off, and there's no one else in the world; only you two. Besides your lips, his favorite place to kiss you is the top of your head: it's a two for one in his mind because he can hug you and kiss you at the same time. He would never admit it, but he melts when you kiss his forehead: he can't explain why, but it makes him feel all warm inside.

L ~ Little Ones (how are they with kids? do they want them/how many?) You've seen him with David's daughter; he was destined to be a father. You had never seen someone so natural with kids. He was also amazed by your motherly instincts. Not just with kids, you had a more elevated gentleness when it came to taking care of him if he's injured, sick, or just feeling low. I'd say you would have two or three kids. You wish you could time travel back to when you told him you were pregnant; that was a smile that you'd want to see again and again.

M ~ Morning (what’s it like waking up to them? what do you do in the mornings?) You could go to bed with a normal amount of space in between you and wake up fully intertwined. It may sound creepy but if you woke up before him, you would lay there and admire his features. How relaxed he looked, watching his chest rise and fall with his breathing, how the morning light would peek through the window and shine over his skin, and how his tired eyes and morning voice would make you fall in love with him all over again.

N ~ Night (how are nights spent with them?) You, in his arms. Spooning you or laying on his chest, you aren't far from him. Nine times out of ten, you're out before him. Like you watching him in the mornings, he watches you while you fall asleep. He would stroke your cheek, play with your hair, or think about your future as he listens to your sweet little snores. (which you say you don't do)

O ~ Open (when did they start revealing things about themselves? all at once or a little at a time?) You would pick up on certain things. Of course, full stories and reasons could only come from him. If something happened that really messed with him, you would learn something new about him. Why whatever it was caused him to have that reaction.

P ~ Patience (are they quick to get mad? what ticks them off?) When he points out when someone is obviously flirting with you and you are just completely oblivious to the advances. You're too nice for your own good. It doesn't make him mad, more slightly frustrated.

Q ~ Quizzes (how much do they remember about you? remember every little detail or forget things?) In between, more on the 'remember every little detail' side. Humans forget things so if he forgets what your current favorite song is, you don't hold it against him. He remembers every milestone date: when he asked you out, first date, first "I love you", first kiss, when you met each other's families. He'll remember your all time favorites: movie, musician, TV show as a little kid.

R ~ Remember (their favorite moment in your relationship. yours as well) Even though you two were grown ups, you just had to read S.E. Hinton's "The Outsiders" together. He did tell a little lie that he never read it just because he loved to see how excited you were about your favorite book and movie. When you did watch the movie, the ending still made you cry and you looked up to see Daniel had started to tear up as well. - "You read it how many times when you were 12?" he asked you. "Probably five, just that year. You notice new things every time you read it again. Same thing with the movie. Now are we gonna start it or not?" "Alright, alright. Open the book, Pumpkin." -

S ~ Security (how protective are they with you? how do they protect you? how do they like to be protected?) You are the most important thing in the world to him. He would do anything and everything to keep you safe. If he could bubble wrap you, he would. Daniel is the kind of man that would participate in the Hunger Games to keep you safe.

T ~ Try (how much effort goes into dates, gifts, anniversaries) Dates: you two could just be cuddled up on the couch, watching movies or playing board games and you'd be a happy girl. Gifts: from him, they could range from silly to sentimental. The silliest gift he's given you was something one of your friends had made: a dollar bill keychain with his face on it, because of his ringname. The most sentimental gift was when he found out how much you liked "The Outsiders" growing up; so he took you to 'The Outsiders House Museum' in Tulsa as part of your birthday gift. When you were looking at the inscribed bricks other visitors had there, you teared up when you noticed: "Y/N, No matter how far, we will always see the same sunset. Stay gold my love, Daniel"

U ~ Ugly (what’s one of their bad habits?) He sometimes makes himself think that he's not good enough for you. Sometimes other people at AEW or haters online will talk about your relationship and it gets to him sometimes. You've told him that he was the only man that has ever made you feel the way he does.

V ~ Vaunt (what do they like to show off? what are they most proud of?) He loves to show you off. He'll post random pictures or videos of you. His Instagram story saw a glimpse of when you gave him a haircut during the stay-at-home order. He's proud of the life you've made together and is excited for what's to come.

W ~ Whole (would they feel incomplete without you?) You both like to say you complete each other. You make the other a better person. You're the only woman he's ever been able to picture a future with.

X ~ Xtra (random headcanon) - "Danny, would you still love me even if I was a worm?" you had just asked randomly. He couldn't tell if you were joking so he asked you to repeat yourself. "I'm sorry baby, what was that?" "If I was a worm, would you still love me?" That's when he broke and laughed. You could only pout as he moved closer to you on the couch and pulled you into his lap. "Pumpkin, I'd turn into a worm so we could be worms in love. Now what's with the silly question?" "Just checking." you said as you kissed the tip of his nose. You saw the realization wash over his features, "Is this one of those weird TikTok things?" your slick little smirk was all the answers he needed. - *yes, this is based off of that tweet*

Y ~ You (what made them fall in love with you?) You were compassionate, driven, and you had a heart of gold. The energy around you was always calming and welcoming. You understood the toll all the traveling could take and that this was his passion.

Z ~ ZZZ (sleeping habits, what’s it like to sleep next to them) Human.Heated.Blanket! No matter the weather, he is always warm. When he's away and can't sleep next to you, your secret little hack is using one of his shirts as a pillowcase. It could never compare to the real Daniel but it was better than nothing. You two are also no strangers to falling asleep on FaceTime together.

~~~~~~~

Moving. She had to quickly sell her old place and relocate. Her brother helped a bit, and y/n managed to buy a small house by the lake. She tried to convince him it wasn’t necessary, that she could handle it on her own, but Scott wouldn’t hear it. Y/n finally gave in after a lot of persuasion, especially when her brother handed her the documents for the new house by the picturesque lake on her birthday.

At first, y/n cut off all contact with friends except Maria. Her best friend let everyone who needed to know that y/n was fine but had to leave for a while. As for Daniel, Maria mentioned a couple of times that Wheeler had asked if her departure was related to that article, inquired about how she was doing, and if Maria knew when y/n would be back. Maria always replied that she didn’t know, as y/n had asked her to.

But yesterday, Captain Kirby called. "I'm sorry, but your leave has gone on too long, and I can’t keep turning a blind eye. Either you return to duty, or the department will have to dismiss you with a formal reprimand for abandoning your sevice." There was no choice. Y/n couldn’t let herself be fired, especially with that kind of record.

She arrived at work half an hour early. Heading to the locker room to change, she ran into some officers from the night shift who were just getting ready to go home. "Hey, y/n! Long time no see! How’ve you been? Where’d you disappear to?" asked one of her colleagues, someone she’d occasionally exchange a few words with. "Hey, hi. Yeah, I was away for a bit. Had some things to sort out," y/n replied reluctantly. She didn’t feel like sharing details with people she barely knew. "Ah, got it. By the way, a couple of days ago, a guy came by asking about you. Pretty good-looking," the colleague said with a smile. "Probably Daniel. I should message him on Instagram and apologize for ignoring his messages all this time," y/n thought. Why hadn’t she replied? She was ashamed of how she’d run away and scared he’d just laugh at her explanations. "I told him you were on leave, and he asked when you’d be back. He also wanted your new number since the old one’s out of service. Oh, and he left you a note. It’s in your locker. Looks like you’ve got an admirer," the colleague added. "Thanks, Rose," y/n nodded briefly and turned to her locker. She took out the note, unfolded it, and started reading. She recognized the handwriting immediately. "Baby, did you really think you could run away from me? You’re sacrificing our relationship, our story, our feelings. I can’t accept that. I’ll find you, I won’t let you escape. You’re meant for me, and I’m meant for you, and I’ll do everything to make you see that. Don’t think I’ll let you go so easily. You’re mine, and you always will be." "Josh…" y/n muttered without realizing she’d said it out loud. Her colleague turned to her, "Did you say something?" Y/n’s face went pale, her ears rang, and her vision blurred. Rose touched her shoulder, "Are you okay? What’s wrong? Are you feeling sick?" It took y/n a few long seconds to snap back to reality. She was staring blankly, barely blinking. "Should I call a doctor?" Rose asked anxiously. "Sit down, I’ll get someone." "No, don’t!" But y/n’s legs gave out, and she sat down on the bench. "Okay, I’ll get you some water," Rose filled a cup from the cooler nearby and handed it to y/n. "What happened?" Y/n grabbed Rose’s hands, "Listen, if he comes back asking about me, you don’t know anything. I’m gone, no phone, you’re clueless." "Got it. But you should tell whoever’s on duty today. I’m heading home to sleep, but I can let them know before I leave." "Yes, please. I’d really appreciate it."

Out on patrol with Jonathan, y/n felt like she was back in her usual routine. Jonathan, as always, understood her without needing explanations. They’d worked together for a long time, and while he’d seen the article, he never pried into her personal life unless she brought it up herself. Mid-shift, they got orders to provide extra security at a large event. These kinds of assignments were usually no big deal.

The first few hours were quiet. The crowd was big but well-behaved. "Hey, Jonathan, it’s hot today. Want something to drink?" y/n wiped the sweat from her forehead. "Yeah, I’m dying of thirst," he admitted. The black uniforms weren’t helping. The sun was relentless. "I’ll grab some water. Need anything else?" y/n offered. "No, just water. Thanks."

Y/n walked over to a small stand with drinks that she’d noticed earlier because of the shade from its awning. "Two bottles of water, please," she said, pulling out some cash. The young guy running the stand nodded and reached into the cooler. While he grabbed the bottles, y/n, out of habit, scanned the area. People were enjoying the unusually hot spring day. Suddenly, her eyes landed on a familiar figure. She looked closer and realized it was her ex. She definitely hadn’t expected to see him here. Grabbing the bottles, y/n quickly walked away in the opposite direction, not paying attention to where she was going. Her mind raced: should she pretend nothing happened? The chance of running into him in such a big crowd was slim. Run away? A bad idea—she was on duty—but at least she wouldn’t have to face Josh. Before she could decide, y/n bumped into someone. A pair of hands steadied her to keep her from falling. "Sorry, I wasn’t looking…" she started, then looked up. "No worries, it happens… Wait, y/n?" She instantly recognized the voice. "Uh… Hi, Dan. Fancy meeting you here," she said awkwardly, then remembered why she was in a hurry. "Listen, I’m sorry I disappeared, I’ll explain everything later, but right now I need your help. My ex is around here somewhere, and I really don’t want to run into him. Can you help me out?" Daniel looked at her, confused, then nodded. "Alright. But you’re definitely telling me where you’ve been and why you’re hiding from your ex," he said firmly.

As the times went by people began to slowly leave the hospitable Harwood house.

During the evening y/n had time to meet a few new people. One of them introduced himself to her as Phillip. Most of their conversation, if you could call it that, was about himself and what he thought was right. Generally, the girl doesn't mind that sort of thing, but this particular guy crossed the line between interesting storytelling and nerdiness. Most of the time y/n just made a very interested look and nodded in the right places. He didn't seem to need anything else. He talked and talked and talked. He couldn't stop. At one point, it even felt like he hadn't been able to express what he was thinking to anyone for a long time and so he was saying all this y/n. From time to time, he touched either the girl's shoulder or her arm, but her body's reaction was scalding and very unpleasant goosebumps running from the point of touch all over her body. Phill, he himself had asked to be addressed that way, didn't seem to notice it, or didn't want to notice it.

As for y/n herself, she reasoned that it was better to have this kind of company than to stand around the bar all night alone or annoying her best friend. Occasionally she felt someone's eyes on her, but looking around she couldn't find who was looking at her. Scanning the crowd over Phillip's shoulder to amuse herself in some way, y/n saw the familiar profile of a good-looking guy she'd met just inside the doorway of the house.

To be honest, this guy was totally not her type. He seemed to be too easygoing, flirted a lot with different girls, was often the center of attention. Basically, doing all sorts of things that y/n herself would never do.

"What do you think?" for the first time that evening, Phillip asked the girl's opinion on something.

Y/n was a little confused, because while she was looking at the guy in the center of circle of girls, she had completely stopped listening to what Phill was saying.

What saved y/n from an uncomfortable situation was the phone vibrating in her pocket. The screen lit up with "Captain Kirby".

"Sorry, I have a work call. It was nice chatting" apologized the girl with a polite smile and walked through the people to the exit to the backyard.

"Yes, Captain, I got it. I'll be there. Have a good night" the girl closed her eyes, pressed the end call button and tucked her phone back into her pocket.

"Nuisance call?"

A male voice from behind made y/n jump. She hadn't heard the door to the backyard open or the footsteps behind her.

"Just a work call. Boss called to give an assignment for tomorrow" she turned to face the man who came out and smiled friendly "I'm y/n, by the way. We met when you were out on the street."

"Daniel. Nice to meet you. Saw you bored at the bar until Phill kept you company."

"Yeah... Kind of... And no, I wasn't bored, I just prefer to keep people entertained and I hardly know anyone here except the owners or Phillip" the girl tried to justify herself.

"Well, now you know me too.  And I'd love to keep you company, so you don't get bored." Daniel did his best to be charming and make the girl feel comfortable.

"Oh, don't be, I'll be leaving soon. Got some work tomorrow" tried to refuse the man y/n as gently as possible.

"By the way, what’s your job and how do you know the hosts?" decided Wheeler inquired. David had mentioned that she was Maria's best friend and a friend of Harwood himself, but Wheeler hadn't met her before. Not at parties or at the shows Harwood sometimes invited his friends to. Or he hadn't noticed.

"I work as a police patrolman. David is an acquaintance of my brother's, and we met a long time ago when I stopped by my brother's house. With Maria, we hit it off quickly and got along. What about you? Are you a friend of David's? I thought he mentioned a friend of his named Dan. Wait a minute... That's your portrait on the wooden artwork on the wall next to the bar. You must be that 'friend from work'."

Dan grinned "Yes, I guess it's me. I hope David only said nice things about me." Wheeler rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. Y/n for some reason made him a little nervous and feel less confident. He definitely likes her. Quite beautiful in appearance, but also very modest and closed off for some reason. Harwood had mentioned earlier that she'd had a rough time lately and maybe that had affected her, Daniel supposed. "You look beautiful, by the way."

The compliment made the girl's face redden, "Thanks. Yeah, sure, just the good stuff. Blood brother and that kind of thing.” She fell silent and hesitated a little “I'm sorry, but I really have to go. Maybe I'll see you somewhere else, Daniel. Have a good night" began the y/n already saying goodbye.

"Wait, give me your phone number? I'll text you tomorrow and maybe we can go out" tried Wheeler and already pulled out his phone, because usually girls gave him their number without much thought.

"Sorry, but no. I have a lot of work and not much free time" again, not for the first time during the evening, y/n felt ashamed for refusing someone, but that's how he thought it would be better, well, or at least at least honest enough. Not to give false hope.

She smiled sweetly at the man one last time and turned around to leave.

Wheeler was amazed at how quickly their conversation ended. Almost every time he left a party either with a girl, or at least a dozen new numbers in his phone of girls who were always willing to keep him company. But not this time. Yes, he had a few phone numbers added to his phone this evening, but this kind of rejection crossed everything. Still in mild surprise, he slowly put the phone in his jeans pocket and hummed. "Looks like an interesting quest. And I'm going to go on it" he thought and went back to the party. He couldn't remember the rest of the evening the next day.

As y/n drove home, the moments of the past party were replaying in her head. And often, it was the last conversation that replayed in her head. In person, Daniel seemed a little different to her, not like he was around the other people at the party. Yes, he was still trying to flirt with her, but he wasn't being too forward. And, unlike Phillip, he wasn't trying to convince her of anything or talk only about himself. I wondered when the real Daniel had been.

Y/n pulled her phone out of her pocket and decided to google her friend. She doesn’t know his last name, but she knew he worked with David, so it was through him that she had to search.

"Cash Wheeler, hah. Current IWGP, AAA and ROH Tag Team Champion alongside with Dax Harwood. Interesting" she thought. There were quite a few pictures on Wheeler's Instagram with blood, lot of photos from backstage, with David, and many other people. A couple of times there were even photos with Phillip with some strange caption under it. Wheeler was smiling in many of them, but he looked rather arrogant. There were also some photos with people she was once shown by her older brother, who was a big fan of wrestling, including Japanese wrestling. Last year, Daniel even posted a picture of him apparently messing up a football field in Jacksonville, Florida with friends. On Twitter, Wheeler was constantly getting into conflicts with fans. Y/n snorted unhappily at what she saw in front of her. Arrogant, testy, scandalous and clearly loves to grab the attention of the people around him. Gross.

She had read a couple articles and she thought Daniel was a much more interesting and more serious person than he showed himself to others. But maybe he's trying to create a nicer public image of himself this way. Y/n had no way of knowing when Daniel was showing his true colors.

The girl stretched lazily and got out of bed to make breakfast.

In the quaint and cozy kitchen, a vibrant young lady meticulously crafted culinary masterpieces with an air of unwavering determination. Her hands danced nimbly across the countertop, measuring ingredients with precision and finesse. As she stirred, sautéed, and whisked, the aroma of fragrant spices filled the air, tantalizing the senses. y/n's eyes sparkled with passion as she poured her heart and soul into each dish, blending flavors and textures with impeccable skill. The rhythmic tapping of a knife against the cutting board provided a soothing soundtrack to her culinary symphony, creating a sense of peace and tranquility.

Finished with breakfast, y/n found her phone. Her phone had been bursting with notifications since early morning, but because the sound was off, she hadn't seen any of them until now. Several hundred people had subscribed to her Instagram. Some even wrote messages to her in DMs. Most of them were very toxic messages.  In addition to notifications of new subscribers, y/n was tagged in some photos. The girl opened one of them and was horrified to notice that the picture showed her hugging Daniel and geotagging the park they met at yesterday. Things got even worse when y/n read the caption under the photo.

“Wrestling star's private life secret revealed! Cash Wheeler, known for his brutal and little-talking image in the ring, was recently spotted in the company of a mysterious lady. For a long time, Wheeler has shied away from discussing his personal relationships, preferring to keep his private life under wraps...”

Under the photo was a link for the full article on the site. Y/n still didn't understand what it was about her and how she deserved all that was coming at her at once. She opened the link and continued reading the article.

“...This time, however, wrestling fans got a rare chance to see Cash Wheeler in an unusual situation for him. Last night, September 27, a Reddit user posted photos of the pair strolling through a park, exchanging smiles. Usually so focused and stern in the ring, Cash seems to have changed his look, becoming more relaxed and open in the company of his enigmatic companion.

The gossip and speculation have not been long in coming. Reddit users are wondering who is this mysterious girl who won the wrestler's heart? How long have they been together? And how have they managed to keep their relationship a secret until now? Undoubtedly, this exciting event caused a storm of emotions among Cash Wheeler's fans. Fans even found some photos from Dynamite that showed Wheeler's new girlfriend with a full access badge, including backstage.

We were able to find out that Cash Wheeler's new girlfriend Y/n Mercer serves on the Asheville Police Department...”

The girl couldn't read any further. She locked the screen and tossed the phone aside. What to say to her brother and how to explain to him that she wasn't hiding her relationship from him because there was no relationship as such. She and Daniel are just friends, right? At the thought of Wheeler, her lips curved into a nervous smile. How would Dan react? Wouldn't it become a problem for him? Rational thoughts quickly began to override the voice in her head. It was screaming that trouble was coming and she needed to run away sooner rather than later. Literally and figuratively.

Y/n literally ran to her bedroom and started packing quickly. She took only the necessary things: documents, several sets of clothes, a laptop and chargers for her gadgets. Y/n began to gasp with panic. She wasn't ready to go through all of this again and alone. She shook and slid down the wall to the floor. Her eyes filled with tears, her hands were shaking, and she was terribly short of breath.

Y/n sobbed for quite some time. She was just beginning to calm down as she heard her phone ringing in the living room. Getting up on slightly shaky legs, she walked to the common room, picked up her phone and saw a missed call from her brother.

“Damn, I'm not ready for this conversation yet...”

The soothing aroma of dinner being prepared wafts through the air, its hearty fragrance mingling with the subtle hint of fresh chopped herbs. The light sizzle of garlic in the pan adds warmth to the atmosphere, inviting all who enter to indulge in the simple pleasures of a home-cooked meal.

"Smells great," remarked Wheeler, "I bet it tastes even better."

"I certainly hope so" replied the girl, placing the plate of cooked food on the table "sit down, it's all ready."

The dish did indeed taste much better than y/n had expected. Dan complimented the dinner and the cook several times throughout the evening. They talked, laughed, joked. For a while, y/n even forgot about everything that was going on outside that small and warm kitchen.

y/n reaches for her phone, fingers tracing the weather app. A red alert flashes, warning of the deluge outside.

"I'm going upstairs. I've got some work to do. Make yourself at home. If you need anything, feel free to take it and use it."

Wheeler had no time to reply before the girl hurried up the stairs.

The heavy rain outside transforms the tranquil night into a symphony of chaos. Sheets of water cascade down from the heavens, pounding relentlessly against the windowpanes. Each droplet adds its voice to the cacophony, creating a mesmerizing yet ominous soundtrack. Occasional flashes of lightning illuminate the sky, briefly painting the room in stark, white light before plunging it back into darkness. Thunder follows, a deep, rumbling bass that reverberates through the walls, shaking the very foundation of the house. Through the glass, the outside world is obscured by a curtain of water, the landscape swallowed by the deluge. Streetlights flicker weakly, struggling to pierce through the thick veil of rain. Within the safety of the living room, the atmosphere is one of hushed anticipation, as if the entire house holds its breath in awe and trepidation. Each gust of wind rattles the window frames, a reminder of nature's awesome power unleashed in the stormy night.

Daniel sat on the couch and scrolled through his Twitter feed. Fans, as usual, wrote different opinions about both FTR and Cash. Wheeler was typing another tweet when a notification popped up on his phone screen that the battery was low, and the phone went dead.

He didn't have his charger with him, after all, he didn't think he'd be gone long. Daniel decided to ask y/n if she had a charger, hoping it wouldn't bother her too much.

Walking upstairs, Wheeler noticed that none of the lights were on in any of the rooms. Carefully walking over to the bedroom door, he tentatively knocked on it.

"y/n, sorry to interrupt" he slowly opened the door, running his gaze around the dark bedroom "are you in here?" he asked quietly.

There was no response, but it seemed like something was moving in the darkness. Lightning flashed occasionally illuminating the space.

His eyes were slowly getting used to the lack of light. It appeared that y/n was in the room after all. She was sitting on the floor next to the bed, eyes tightly shut and hands covering her ears.

Dan slowly, so as not to scare the girl any more than they were already scared, approached and put his hand on her shoulder.

"y/n, are you okay?" The man was obviously excited about what was happening, but immediately realized how stupid his question sounded. Of course she wasn't okay. "I'm sorry. What can I do for you?"

The girl was literally shaking. She was shivering all over her body. Sticky cold sweat ran down her back, traveling lower. Her eyes closed tightly in an attempt not to see the flashes of lightning.  Y/n bit her lips, not knowing why or why not. Fear paralyzed her entire body, preventing her from moving. Only to sway back and forth.

"N-n-no-nothing," stammered the girl. "I can handle this problem on my own. Never mind."

The y/n felt like a problem again. A problem that once again hung on someone and made life difficult. Firstly, she was the family's problem, then her brother's, even though he denied it, then Josh's problem. But now she wouldn't be Daniel's problem. It's not like they're even dating. He's just a friend. She'll handle everything on her own and alone.

"Please leave me alone. I don't want you to see me like this" asked y/n quietly and confused.

Wheeler gently stroked the girl's arms, letting her know that he wasn't going anywhere "I'm here and I'm not going anywhere. Let me help you."

Dan sat down next to him on the floor and enclosed the girl in a hug.

"I'm here. I want to help. Talk to me. Explain to me what's going on and what I can do to make you feel better."

The feeling of support nearby made tears flow from y/n's eyes. She tried to hold them back, but she couldn't control herself. y/n was silent for a long time and then whispered, "be there for me."

The man squeezed the hug a little tighter, gently stroking the girl's back, helping her calm down a little.

"I'm here. Not going anywhere. I'll be here as long as you need me."

Eventually the rain began to subside, and the thunder and lightning stopped. y/n slowly began to calm down and relax in the warm embrace. She hugged the man back and whispered softly in his ear, "Thank you. You didn't have to but thank you so much anyway.".

"I know I shouldn't have, but I wanted to help you. And I guess I succeeded" joked Daniel and smiled. The atmosphere in the room was slowly becoming more pleasant. He pulled back a little so he could see y/n's face.

"Are you going to tell me what happened? Only if you okay with sharing that with me."

y/n looked at Dan intently. It seemed to be the first time in their entire, albeit brief, acquaintance that they were so physically close, and it caused absolutely no discomfort or nerves.

She looked into his dark brown eyes and seemed to see a whole abyss there that was hiding something. Hiding, but not hiding danger. At one point y/n even thought about wanting to explore that 'unknown'.

They sat for several minutes just looking into each other's eyes.

The first eye contact was broken by y/n. She gestured Wheeler to the seat next to her.

He sat down next to the girl and took her hand in his so that even though she couldn't see him, she would remember that he was there for her if y/n needed support.

"When thunder rumbles and lightning flashes I get panic attacks. I don't know what exactly scares me... It gets harder to breathe, my chest starts to hurt. I'm having flashes of all kinds of bad memories, everything is rattling." The girl paused to take a few deep breaths. Daniel stroked y/n gently, warming her slightly frozen hands from the stress.

"I don't know exactly what caused it originally to start all this. The first attack I remember happened to me at school during art class. I really scared my classmates, and they wouldn't talk to me or sit next to me afterward for a few months. On the day of the first attack after class, the teacher left me after class, scolded me for a long time and told me that the next time I decided to organize something like that, that I should go where there was no one. Since then, every time it starts raining hard, I go somewhere away from everyone. But it doesn't always work out, so sometimes other people have this problem of mine."

"That's terrible. I'm sorry you have to go through that. I mean, that the people around you reacted to it that way. Even if you're having some difficulties, you shouldn't have to go through this alone. I'm sure you have people who can and want to help and support you. I'm here for you and I'm ready to help you. I don't think Maria does either, I don't think she thinks you're a burden."

y/n rested her head on Wheeler's shoulder and softy whispered a barely audible "thank you".