Hello all. Felt like revisiting this couple, so this is a follow-on from the Treat two-shot, set around now (April 2014), six months on from that story. It's set in kayfabe, so any real-life off-screen interactions between these people have not happened. I'm aware Summer and Renee are good friends in real-life and she and Dean may or may not be dating. These are their wrestling characters. Hope you enjoy!
"That'll be my taxi," Renee sighed as the blaring of a car horn sounded through the balmy late afternoon air.
"Fuck!" Sami exclaimed, banging his fist down on the balcony table.
"What? You knew what time I was leaving. It's the same as any other week," Renee replied plaintively, somewhat disappointed with her boyfriend opting for the tantrum route while she tried to put a brave face on the situation as ever.
"That's just it. Every time I get the slightest bit used to having you around, you're taken away from me. It's like fucking Groundhog Day," Sami replied, joining Renee on her feet and following her into the apartment as she gathered her assembled luggage from by the door.
"It's the business we're in, mon cherie," Renee answered with a nonchalant shrug, determined not to be made to dwell on the prospect that 50% of her days were spent hundreds or even thousands of miles away from the man she loved.
"But how the fuck are we supposed to move things forward?" Sami went on.
"Living together means nothing when one of us is never home."
"So that's what you think, is it?" Renee snapped, the insolence of that last comment forcing her to abandon her air of passive calm.
"We're still at square one? The last six months have been meaningless? Please, think before you speak every so often."
"You know that's not what I meant…" Sami breathed softening his tone and pulling her lightly towards him by her wrist.
"…I love you. I really love you. Too much to spend five out of every seven days of the week making do with a phonecall. That's my main motivation for busting my ass in the ring now; hoping that someone in Stamford will notice and let me out on the road with you."
"If you love me then stop making me feel guilty for doing what I'm paid to do, which, lest we forget, is the whole reason we came into each other's lives in the first place," Renee implored, meeting him directly in his eyes.
"This is my dream just as it is yours. It was always gonna be like this. All we can do is support one another and make the most of the time we do have. Now, I've got to get going. I'll call you when I get to Raleigh. I love you."
A peck on the lips and a slam of the door and Sami was alone yet again. The decision to finally bite the bullet and act upon his feelings towards Renee that Halloween night had been one of his best ever, he still maintained that. However, there were times where he wondered whether exposing himself to the many-splendored glory of their time together was doing him more harm than good in present circumstances.
Six months on he still seemed no closer to a permanent spot on the main roster; his celebrated encounters with Cesaro earning him little more than a pat on the back and an honorable mention. Meanwhile, Renee's profile on Raw and Smackdown was growing by the week, meaning more and more days spent apart.
He wanted to be there to console her after a particularly intense interview, or if Summer or some other odious bully took it upon themselves to bring her down as they had in the past. He wanted her gorgeous face to be the first one he saw whenever he came back through the curtain after his matches, so he had something to be cheerful about win or lose. He wanted to end every day with her in his arms.
But for the time being that was almost impossible. Were two days a week with her really better than nothing if they made the time in between was so torturous?
'Sorry about earlier. Will resolve to spend the rest of this week growing the fuck up. Love you xxxx'
Renee's smile could have lit up the whole departure lounge. She couldn't stay mad at this man, ever. He was sweet and caring beyond compare. Not to mention devilishly handsome, amazing in bed, a really great cook, she could go on…
She felt exactly the same way he did. The fact people with barely an ounce of the talent Sami had were getting the call-up over him made it ten times worse. But she believed in him, she believed in herself, and she knew that together they would be taking the WWE by storm sooner rather than later.
"What are you so happy about, Renee?" Renee shut her eyes and gritted her teeth as a shrill, mewling voice filled her ears and a tall, spindly figure in a blinding hot pink mini-dress blocked her line of vision.
Summer Rae dressed for a flight as she would the red carpet. Once upon a time that intimidated Renee. Not anymore.
"Do you own any clothing that doesn't show us all exactly what you ate for breakfast, Summer?" she spat back. She used to fiercely dread these confrontations. She almost relished them now.
"You're about to find out in even more graphic detail when I throw up at the thought of you squeezed into a dress like this," Summer retorted. Renee merely laughed it off.
"My my my, we are insecure today, aren't we?" Renee cooed malevolently.
"…What's up? Did Fandango call out his own name in bed again? Has he finally admitted he loves his baby oil more than his baby girl?"
"Things are going better than ever, thank you very much!" Summer snapped indignantly and rather unconvincingly. Renee wasn't done.
" The reason I was smiling, since you asked, was because I've snagged myself the coolest, funniest, most thoughtful guy in the WWE. I don't need to wear clothes I have to be poured into, or prostitute my life to reality TV, or take a selfie every two minutes in order to feel appreciated."
Summer was bright red with rage and embarrassment. Renee could see her racking her brains for an appropriate reply. In the end all she could muster was a frustrated 'humph' as she tottered away as quickly as her stilettos would allow.
Renee allowed herself a silent but hearty laugh. To think that was the exact situation that six months ago would have rendered her speechless and powerless as Summer's superficial putdowns cut way deeper than they ought to. To think that an encounter with that woman used to result in a sleepless night or a session spent sobbing into the mirror, lamenting that whatever she did, she would never quite measure up to the statuesque superwomen that populated the business she loved.
That had all changed, and Sami Zayn was the reason why. Any of the confidence in her appearance that had evaporated amid the breakdown of her engagement and her move to the WWE had been replenished and added to during their time together. He never left her in any doubt that as far as he was concerned, she was all the woman he could wish for.
In a flash these minor imperfections Summer was so fond of pointing out became just that; barely worth considering. If they didn't bother Sami, they didn't bother Renee.