#double back

Almost every night, this towering man laid upfront, vulnerable for once as black tresses settled against broad shoulders. Whenever choosing to make love, you held his broken heart, calming pain that no one else understood. 

Gentle words moved between shadows and Roman can’t even tell where your bodies separate anymore, almost desperate. 

“More? You want more?” For once, his dark Southern accent nearly wavered as your silhouette drifted along the walls. 

“Yes.” You can’t even sit up, only grounded by his strength. That muscular frame welcomed tribal ink against one dominant arm. 

“Kiss me.” Deep brown eyes almost pleaded for attention. There’s no turning back. Not this time. Never again. 

Meeting his lips, you smile, ready for another round. 

“Uce!” Jey called from the hallway, rattling so much noise. His unexpected knocking dropped your plan with Roman out of nowhere. 

Almost scrambling away from bed, you turned, but Roman dared to smile and bright teeth crossed his expression. 

“I’ll hit you with the pillow. Stop staring at me.” You’re not even laughing toward Roman for so many reasons. 

“No.” Reigns moved closer and almost licked your neck while Jey nearly shouted in the hall, guards be damned. Even Roman’s graying beard smoothed along your perfect body. 

Yet, one last interruption broke Reigns from “your spell.” When Reigns moved in sweatpants, his dark hair almost swung back and forth, pulling the door open. 

“What the hell is wrong with you, man? I’ve been calling.” Facing Roman, Jey clenched his gold teeth while standing between dim light of the font room. 

“Leave me alone.” Reigns kept going, pissed off beyond words. 

“What are you doing?” Jey wouldn’t stop asking questions either, but footsteps lingered closer and closer to the bedroom. 

“Step back.” Reigns lifted his palm. 

“Nah, you’re hiding something, Big Dog.” Jey shook his head, still puzzled. 

One moment changed everything when you walked out of the bedroom. 

“Oh shit!” Still looking at Roman,  Jey couldn't believe what’s going on and would glance in your direction. “You’re with her?” 

“Don’t be stupid.” Reigns knew better than to play games in return. 

Snatching belongings, you can’t handle drama anymore and ignored Roman, slamming the door behind both men. 

Enough was enough. 

________

“What are you doing later?” Jey stepped forward as gold shined against the bottom of his teeth. No longer booked as the World Heavyweight Champion, Jey’s somewhat tough voice nearly whispered, searching for guidance. 

“Nothing.” You smiled for a moment and almost looked bashful while facing him. As monitors played timing footage, people screamed around this venue during another edition of “Saturday Night’s Main Event.” 

As Visionary Seth Rollins battled fan favorite LA Knight, an accident struck. 

“Oh my goodness. Bring some help over there! Seth Rollins buckled his knee after trying to land the Moonsault.” Team members began to rush footsteps all over. Even dread would move its own beast pushing magic to one screeching end. Regardless of the plot here, injuries always break your heart. 

“Shit!” For so many reasons, Jey can’t imagine what’s going on as you watch everything turn. Even spectators cheered when Rollins almost somehow moved before handing the “new” victory to LA Knight. 

Wow! Your thoughts loomed with questions beyond understanding. Who knows what the future could look like next? 

****

Shambles. For the first time in years, another conference room should burn with absolute disaster. Adam Pearce, the famous General Manager who stood behind “Monday Night Raw,” didn’t know what to think as creative folks jumbled ideas. Cross-talk almost raged from everyone around. 

“What the hell?” Writers traded countless points of frustration. There’s no other feeling that would make sense right now. “Summerslam could be ruined this year! We don’t even have time for new concepts.” 

Before long, Adam’s phone chimed with an unexpected message: 

Heyman: Let us in, Pearce! I have an idea. 

Flagged by two hulking stances of Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed, the former “Wiseman” Paul Heyman entered that conference room. Even another tailored suit would dress his pudging frame this time around. 

“Make that phone call.” Facing Pearce as everyone observed quietly, Heyman shuffled footsteps and sat down, taking charge for the first time since “joining forces” with Seth Rollins. 

Through quick realization, panic slapped Adam in the face. 

“No. It’s too early. Snatching off clear glasses, Adam shook his bald head almost right away. Too many loose ends unraveled as time considered one possible return, even right now. 

“If you don’t figure something out, our Bronson idea will fall apart. CM Punk is already booked to win the gauntlet match and fight Gunther this year.” Heyman just revealed facts, not dueling anyone. 

“Time to work, then.” Given no other choice, Adam pulled himself together. “Can we negotiate with Roman now? I’ll never contact him without being prepared.” 

“Hurry up, everyone!” When professionals moved like clockwork during this special time of year, many experts rolled out, grounding  this spurred yet monumental plan to welcome back The Tribal Chief. 

Holding somewhat labored breath as the door closed, Paul Heyman watched alongside Breakker and Reed. 

Within seconds, Adam Pearce stopped playing games and finally dialed his most important phone number. 

This call rang once. Twice. Three times. Even Breakker started tapping his own sneakers underneath this large table. 

By that fourth round, gates of opportunity opened at last…. 

“Hello?” For the first time losing his Triple Threat Match against Rollins and Punk, Roman Reigns echoed his Southern accent during this call. 

With each passing moment, Adam can already picture modern legend Roman Reigns around scopes of his own mind.

Because Reigns almost sounded bored, Pearce knew that The Tribal Chief might as well hang up this damn phone, most likely swerving another heatwave that buzzed all around his yacht. 

“I’m so sorry for bothering you, but Seth is hurt.” Adam offered the message. “Would you be interested in helping us out, Roman?” 

“Is this a work?” Reigns wasn’t stupid, only needing to confirm details at the last minute. Enough was enough. 

“No, Sir.” Adam held this phone on speaker and offered the truth about Rollins. No more bullshit played out for Roman. “Rollins is still  in recovery now.” 

“Damn, all right.” Reigns ended this call without hesitation and the conference room began to silence  once more. 

Here we go. Adam thought, waiting all over again. 

*****

“No!” Commentators panicked while relaying action from the announcement tables. As thousands of fans watched “Monday Night Raw” end, voices screamed in terror when Breakker lost. Even Big Reed stalked Jey Uso, also piling CM Punk for an upcoming “Double Tsunami!” 

Out of nowhere, three roaring drums welcomed more and more excitement when Roman turned to march down, ready for war. 

Soon, Reigns walked over that large entrance ramp for the first time since facing Mania. For once, cheering thundered so much that heroically ominous music could’ve silenced altogether.  

He’s back. You realize, no longer able to avoid Reigns. Even trying to move forward without him couldn’t last long. 

Chaos and destruction pushed Reed and Breakker out when Reigns attacked. Yet Jey almost suffered on the canvas, beaten down as everyone continued screaming. 

Your heart dropped. Would Roman actually help Jey if threats could move elsewhere? You still didn’t know what to think. 

Soon enough, you witnessed the answer. 

Putting out his hand, Reigns helped Jey stand from the mat this evening and greeted his cousin, only sharing a quick glance while credits rolled. 

_______

Returning behind the scenes as expected, you checked on Jey first when medics helped Uso leave that training hall. 

“Is everything okay?” Genuinely concerned, you watched Jey for a moment. Overhead light gleamed to show off his shirtless and athletic build. Tribal ink honored family members of course. 

“I’m good, could be worse.” Jey moved closer again and wanted to calm down your own nerves. Fighting monsters in the ring didn’t even spook him anymore. 

Your sadness terrified him instead. 

Before your own hand might reach out to smooth dark curls of Jey’s beard, everything stopped. Even the production team froze. 

When you turned around and faced Roman, his deep brown eyes would haunt the back corner of this private space.