#tjd

⸻

𝐒𝐔𝐌𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐘:

After weeks of silence and emotional distance, Reader makes her shocking solo debut on SmackDown—leaving The Judgment Day stunned and Liv Morgan furious. But when an unexpected attack puts Reader in danger, it’s Judgment Day who shows up to protect her. What follows is a whirlwind of confusion, panic, and raw confession… and when Liv finally learns the truth, the answer she gives may break Reader all over again. PART ONE

⸻

𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒:

▸ Panic attack

▸ Heavy angst

▸ Emotional rejection

▸ LGBTQ+ themes

▸ Mentions of emotional trauma, abandonment

▸ Crying, heartbreak

⸻

Yeah, well… people never mean to fall. That’s why it hurts.

⸻

LOCATION: Hotel Suite – Somewhere on the Road

The television flickered in front of them, tuned in to SmackDown. The room was dim, low golden light from the corner lamp casting long shadows across the walls. JD sat forward, arms on his knees. Finn stood with his arms crossed. Dom had his phone in hand, half-paying attention.

Liv Morgan, however, was glued to the screen.

And there you were — walking out under the blue lights in new gear, a new theme, no Judgment Day in sight. Alone. Confident. Changed.

Liv’s mouth dropped slightly. “No one told me she was debuting tonight.”

Dom looked up. “She didn’t tell any of us. She hasn’t texted back in weeks.”

Finn didn’t say anything. His jaw was locked.

JD muttered, “She ghosted everyone. Not even a ‘hey I’m alive’.”

Liv’s hands curled into fists as you lifted your arms in the ring, soaking in the reaction. Her voice was quiet, cold.

“She really left us like that?”

No one had an answer.

⸻

LOCATION: Two Weeks Later – SmackDown

You didn’t have time to react when Naomi’s boot slammed into your ribs.

The match had ended five minutes ago — a surprise attack. You had no backup. No allies. No faction behind you.

You were on the mat, coughing, clutching your side when the crowd erupted. The music hit like a siren through the chaos.

The Judgment Day.

They slid into the ring like wolves: Finn leading, JD close, Dom right after — and Liv. Her hair wild, eyes locked on Naomi as they cornered her. Naomi bailed fast, slipping under the ropes, arms up in frustration as she backed up the ramp.

You stayed down. Breathing. Frozen.

Dom turned toward you, breathless, and held out a hand.

You looked at it.

Then you looked at him.

And rolled out of the ring without saying a word.

The crowd reacted in stunned confusion, but you didn’t stop. You climbed the ramp slowly, carefully — clutching your ribs.

Behind you, Liv was yelling.

“Are you kidding me?!” she shouted, jumping down and following after you. “You’re just gonna walk off?! After everything?!”

⸻

LOCATION: Private Locker Room – Moments Later

You slammed the door shut behind you and dropped your bag, back pressed against the cold metal. Your chest was tight — too tight. Your hands were shaking.

The panic hit like a freight train.

Your ribs hurt, but your heart hurt worse. You couldn’t breathe. Your throat was closing. You clawed at the zipper of your jacket but it felt like your skin was too tight. Tears burned hot in your eyes.

Then the door burst open.

“What the hell is wrong with you?!” Liv snapped, barging in. “You ignore us for weeks, you debut on SmackDown without a word, and now you walk away like we mean nothing to you—?!”

You didn’t answer. You couldn’t. You were crumpled near your bench, gasping for air, fists tight against your chest.

Liv didn’t notice at first. She kept going.

“I’ve been losing my mind, wondering what I did wrong! Wondering what we meant to you! I defended you to Dom, to Finn, to everyone—”

She finally looked down.

And stopped.

“…Wait. Oh my god.”

She dropped to her knees in front of you. “Hey. Hey—look at me. Breathe. Just breathe, okay? You’re okay. You’re safe. I’ve got you.”

She took your trembling hands and placed them on her own chest.

“Match my breathing, okay? In… and out. Just like that.”

It took a minute — longer — but you finally gasped your way back to a rhythm. Your body still trembled as your eyes met hers.

“…I didn’t walk away because I hate you,” you whispered. “I walked away because I love you.”

Liv froze.

“I couldn’t take watching you with Dom. I couldn’t stand being invisible to you while feeling like I was falling apart inside. I’ve been in love with you for months, and I was too scared to say it because I thought if I did, I’d lose everything.”

Your voice broke.

“And then I lost it anyway.”

For a long moment, Liv just stared. Her blue eyes were wide. You couldn’t read her.

Then… slowly, she pulled her hands away from yours.

“…Liv?” you said, breath hitching.

But she was already standing.

Already turning.

Already walking out the door.

Click. The door shut behind her.

Liv had just walked out. Kinda like how you did to her.

The door shut behind her like a final word, a silent “you shouldn’t have said that,” and it felt like all the air had been ripped from your lungs again — but this time, the panic didn’t need to finish what heartbreak had already started.

You sank to the cold floor, knees pulled to your chest, arms wrapped around your stomach like you could hold yourself together physically. But the sobs came hard and messy. There was no saving face now. Not after weeks of silence. Not after baring every piece of yourself to the one person you couldn’t stand losing.

And she walked away.

You didn’t hear the knock. Or the door creak open.

But you felt it when someone sat down beside you. Felt it when the person wrapped their arms around you.

“…Hey.” JD’s voice was softer than you’d ever heard it.

You didn’t even look up. Just choked on another breath. “She left Jay.”

“I know.”

“I—I thought she’d say something. Anything.”

JD hesitated, then placed his hand on your back, rubbing slowly between your shoulder blades — not saying much, not pushing.

“She just needs time,” he said finally. “She’s got a loud mouth but a slow brain when it comes to feelings.”

That earned a weak, half-hearted laugh through your crying, and JD smiled softly like it was the first step.

“She’s not mad,” he added. “Not really. She’s just scared. The same way you were.”

You sniffled, turning your head up to look at him, eyes glossy. “You think I made it worse?”

“I think…” JD exhaled. “I think you finally told the truth. And no matter what happens next, you needed to say it.”

You closed your eyes, leaning you head against his chest listening to his heartbeat. “I didn’t mean to fall in love with her.”

JD ran his fingers throught you hair gently. “Yeah, well… people never mean to fall. That’s why it hurts.”

⸻

SOMEWHERE DOWN THE HALL – LIV’S POV

She didn’t stop walking until she hit the far end of the hallway.

Her hands were shaking. Her jaw was tight. Her chest felt like it was wrapped in barbed wire.

She should’ve stayed. She should’ve said something.

But the second you said “I’m in love with you,” it was like her brain short-circuited.

She didn’t even know what to feel. She was angry. Hurt. Guilty. Confused. And underneath it all, something soft and terrifying was blooming in her ribs — something she wasn’t ready to name.

She leaned against the wall, eyes burning.

Footsteps echoed behind her. She didn’t have to look to know who it was.

“You okay?” Finn asked, voice quiet, cautious.

Liv didn’t answer.

He moved to stand beside her, studying her face.

“What happened?”

He didn’t need to ask, but he wanted to hear it from the blonde.

She hesitated. Her throat was tight. Finally, she whispered:

“She said… she’s in love with me.”

Finn blinked slowly. “And how do you feel about that?”

Liv’s eyes dropped to the floor. Her heart thundered in her chest.

“…I don’t know.”