POWER
She was stood in the centre of the squared circle, green leather jacket hanging from her shoulders, brown hair tousled with curls, a microphone poised at her mouth.
"My name is Kenna Swan. Last week, I made it known that my intentions weren't to take part— my intentions are to take over. And after last week, it was simple for me to secure insurance that protected me from both my brother and The Authority. Because at the moment it seems that Hunter and Stephanie don't take me very seriously. They will."
"Currently, if I want to stay, I'm faced with a dilemma. I wrestle, or— I manage. And I can wrestle, don't get me wrong, but there are things I can do that don't give me limits. For example, I know Kane is out there somewhere directing operations… or whatever it is he does, but I also know he wrestles. Even though that's not really the word I'd use for how he blunders through matches."
Kenna took a moment to look at the crowd. "But, see, that brings me to a curious little situation. I need power. To change this company, to gain respect, to have Hunter and Stephanie treat me as an equal, I need power. And Kane, as far as I'm concerned, went too far on Smackdown. He's gone unpunished. Until now."
"Now, Kane, please— if you'd join me out here, we can discuss this face to face like reasonable people."
She didn't have to wait very long for Kane's theme to echo through the arena, and a long chorus of jeers fell across her. He was dressed in his suit, red tie, and looked more confused than she'd ever seen him. Maybe her brother hadn't mentioned this was happening.
"Come on down, Kane," she said, voice inviting, and then watched closely as he started to make his way down to her. But as he walked up the steel steps and grabbed the ropes, Kenna held out a hand and smiled a little. "That's far enough, don't you think?"
Kane had no microphone, but she easily heard him ask why he was out there.
"Last week on SmackDown, one fact became blatantly obvious— your anger problems result in a loss of control and you make mistakes that a person in such a position shouldn't be making." Kenna paused, and out of the corner of her eye, she saw a shift of black and blonde. "It's come to my attention that last week wasn't the first time it's happened, either. Your anger eclipses your better judgement and, for example, it leads you to do stupid things… like lay your hands on me."
"See, I understand what it's like to be so— so angry you just can't contain it. I know how it feels for someone to push your buttons and make you feel week, and maybe The Shield have done that, maybe they haven't, maybe I did that when I held your mask, or maybe my brother asked for you to do what's best for business," she spat slowly, "and take care of us. But that's just speculation."
"For now, in fact, it seems to me as though you're unfit for the position of 'Director of Operations'…" The smirk grew on Kenna's face as she stepped towards him, and the screams started when The Shield stepped out from the shadows. "And right now, Kane? I'm relieving you of your duties."
More screams, this time louder, and Kenna raised the microphone to her mouth one last time. "It's time for you to face your demons."
Very suddenly, Kenna slammed her booted foot into the centre of Kane's chest. He flew backwards, off the apron, and like rabid animals ready for vengeance, The Shield launched themselves at the fallen giant of man.
Like hounds on a bone, each of the combat clad men were stomping their boots into his chest, against his legs and arms and hands, kicking and punching and looking like they were enjoying every second. Reigns yelled out to his brothers and they threaded their hands under Kane's arms, pulled him up— only for the Samoan to launch into him with a rib-shattering spear.
Kenna stood on the apron with an arrogant little smirk and sidestepped to avoid Kane being rolled into her legs. The Hounds of Justice flung themselves between the ropes and in seconds had delivered a debilitating triple power bomb.
"Swan!"
She hadn't even had a chance to take an appreciative look at Roman when Stephanie's voice almost pierced her eardrums, and it was definitely something when the woman's theme wasn't even playing.
"Kenna Swan, you've overstepped your mark here tonight!"
The McMahon was sauntering towards her with an angry twist at her mouth and an even angrier look in her eyes, and for a moment Kenna didn't know whether she was messing around or being completely serious— they hadn't even talked about Stephanie joining her in the ring, but then… here she was.
"To what do I owe the pleasure, Steph?"
"You may be my husband's little sister, but you need to understand your boundaries on my show, you hear me?" Stephanie seethed, but she wasn't done. "Do you think that by dismissing Kane, you'll automatically be granted the vacant position? Because that's not how this works here—"
Kenna laughed, shook her head, and when she started speaking, Stephanie let go of an indignant squeak. "That's exactly how it works—"
"Don't you dare interrupt—"
"Interrupt you?" Again, Kenna laughed. "Too late. Kane is incapable of doing his job and so I'm fixing your problem and relieving him of his duties, wishing him well in his… future endeavours. That's what you usually say, isn't it? But don't worry, I have everything under control. I know how to run a business."
The woman's nostrils were flaring, her jaw locked, and Kenna's smirk was tugging at her mouth. She didn't pull back quick enough to avoid the palm slapping against her cheek, and it seemed that everyone had been shocked into silence as Kenna tried to maintain her cool.
Slowly, the younger woman turned her head back to stare at her brother's wife.
"You've gone too far, Kenna, but you're right. Kane is not in a position to handle such responsibilities, and right now you're the only person who has the resumé as proof they can undertake a burden as heavy as this." Stephanie was calmer now and her chin raised as she tried to talk down to her. "But you've been disrespectful, and that need punishment. So our main event for tonight? Choose someone to represent you, someone who is strong enough to go up against the Big Show, because if you lose this match? You leave this company."
Kenna fingered her cut lip, but still raised the microphone to her mouth. "And if I win?"
"The job is yours."
—
Roman was staring at her like he was expecting for her to say something, but she was still too busy quietly brooding to even want to appease him.
No. Not after Stephanie had slapped her like that, not after she'd humiliated her in front of millions of people. Not after she'd talked to the woman hours beforehand to go over the intricate details, and especially not after she'd actually cut her skin. Kenna was thick skinned, but some wounds were more than just flesh wounds.
"So?"
Her hazel eyes shot up to where Dean was leaning against a crate. "So what?"
"Who's fighting for you?"
The initial thought had been her step-brother. Just to add some salt to the wound, of course, but then he'd never say yes to her anyway, so that was a definite no. Then, for some unexplainable reason, her next thought had been John Cena. Nothing much was needed there except for over her dead body. And then her mind slowed sufficiently for Kenna to realise she didn't need to fret at all— she'd asked Roman Reigns to be her man before he convinced The Shield to become her men. But if she wanted to make sure he was with her one hundred percent, he would have to be the one to make that call.
And he did.
"I will."
She didn't look at him straight away. But when she did, his stormy grey eyes were staring straight back at her. "I can't ask you—"
"You're not."
"He's a dangerous man, Roman…"
"Do you trust me?" He asked lowly, and Kenna found that she couldn't look away from him. Her throat dried, hand clenching by her side into a fist.
Then, she murmured a "yes".
But she was jolted from their moment when her phone buzzed, and she quickly excused herself from where the stable had set themselves up at; the screen was flashing her brother's name and no one needed to hear the conversation she was about to have with him. She managed to find an empty room and shoved herself inside, flicked the light on.
When she answered it, she didn't even have the chance to start talking. "Okay, before you lose your mind, it was my idea. Stephanie didn't want to do it at first, but then… it was just— it was my idea. Don't be mad at her."
"Was it your idea for her to bust my lip open?"
He faltered.
"Yeah, I thought not. There's playing a character on TV and then being disrespectful, and you know who was who out there, you know I wasn't the one being disrespectful." Kenna took a deep breath and pushed a fist against her head. "Hunter, I didn't come here to be pushed around by your wife. You're the one that wanted me here. I know she doesn't like me, but at least keep her on a fucking leash so she's not humiliating me in front of the entire world."
"Hey, hey, Ken— I know, alright?" He sighed. "I know. I'll have a word with her."
"And next time when you change your plans, at least clue me in, okay? It's not too great being on the other side of the drop."
"Yeah."
Kenna breathed out heavily and shook her head, a small smile tugging at her lips. "At least Reigns came through."
"He fighting for you?"
"Of course he is."
She could hear the smile in Hunter's voice. "See, that's the result I was after. He offered, didn't he? Already got this sense of honour and he's not hesitating in binding his loyalties to you. Whatever you're doing… keep doing it."
"Sir, yes sir," Kenna murmured. There was a knock on the door, and Kenna quickly said, "gotta go," before ending the call.
Roman was standing at the door when she opened it.
"Can I come in?"
She smiled at him and stepped aside. "Of course."
The room wasn't anything special. Save for some filing cabinets, it was completely empty— and it was spacious enough for the both of them to fit, so that was an added bonus. Kenna pressed her back against the cabinet and watched the Samoan under a close gaze as he shut the door… and then locked it.
"Where are Ambrose and Rollins?"
"Busy."
Roman closed the gap between them so quickly that she gasped and flung her arms out, stopping him just short of her body. And— she'd stopped him. She was just as surprised as him, but she didn't have a good reason for doing it, or any reason at all.
He grabbed her hands and slowly dragged them up to his mouth, ran her knuckles across his lips. And then he dropped them and instead pressed his fingers into her neck, grasping her face, and very gently kissed her. It wasn't intense or powerful. It wasn't like him, but it was something that seemed to soothe her frazzled edges, and slowly but surely she melted into his embrace.
"Nothing's changed," he whispered. "I fight for you, inside and outside that ring. You don't have to sleep with me to maintain that promise anymore."
Kenna grinned against his mouth. "I sleep with you because I want to. I'm just— on edge."
"Stephanie McMahon has that effect on everyone."
"Yes, she does."
Stephanie didn't bother gracing the crowd with her presence for the main event. The Big Show was out there and waiting for Kenna alone, and hopefully that meant it was a one-on-one affair, but she wouldn't be surprised if the McMahon was hiding an ace up her sleeve.
So Kenna stood up on the ramp with another microphone in her mouth, and as she announced the man who had the honour of fighting in her name, she didn't feel the slightest worried. Roman would take care of this, and she would make sure that no one who didn't belong there entered that ring. It would be a fair fight to the very end.
And it was.
At the end of the match, Roman Reigns' hand was raised to the sound of a split crowd, and Kenna knew that she had the power she'd so badly been craving for.
Until tomorrow night, there was nothing left and no one left for Stephanie McMahon terrorise.
—
It didn't take long for Roman to pick up where he'd left off when they reached the hotel that night. It was her room this time, because his was housing Ambrose and Rollins and they didn't need to see or hear what was happening.
Because right now, she kept moaning his name, breathing out air she didn't have in little huffs, and in the effort, her forehead was creased. Roman was shifting on top of her, thrusting and pushing and his mouth was groaning against her breast, hot breath falling against her skin, and Kenna didn't really have the energy or strength to hold onto him any tighter, but fuck did she want to.
When his teeth grated against her nipple, Kenna hissed and threw her head back onto the pillow with another moan, let her nails dig into his shoulders, and Roman groaned right back at her and fuck, fuck, her toes curled at the gravel in his voice and the look of his body on top of hers.
His hand was already moving from the bruising hold on her hip to the bundle of nerves at the base of her navel, and she barely managed to prepare herself before she was gasping and climaxing, her body shaking in pure bliss, mind lost in a beautifully endless rapture. She clenched around his length and she could faintly feel his stuttered breath on her chest and his more erratic movements, but then he was almost collapsing onto her body with release— and then he would have surely crushed her.
The strong arms next to her head were shaking with effort of holding himself up, but he fell into the space next to her with a peacefully satisfied look on his face, and his sweat hair fell limp across the pillow.
"How old are you?" Kenna asked suddenly, and Roman turned to look at her with a small grin.
"What?"
She asked again. "How old are you?"
"Twenty-nine this year."
"Huh."
Roman turned so he was facing her completely, and then he repeated her question. "How old are you?"
"Twenty-four." It was visible that he tried to at least make his blanch a little less obvious, but his jerking reaction still got an eye-roll as a response. "I wouldn't worry about it, I've always had an old soul."
"You're makin' me feel old."
She smirked at him then. "I'm makin' you feel a lot of things."
His eyes flashed, and she realised that she was right— whether he wanted to acknowledge that or not.
chapter theme and title named after POWER by Kanye West.
thank you so much to quinzel harley and Raquel the writer for your kind comments, and please don't hesitate to let me know what you think about this update! i'll try and write as much as i can, but work and uni are going to be intense, so we'll see how it goes! in the mean time, enjoy this chapter!
all the love x