"Nice job kid," Road Dogg greets Skylar as she walks through the curtain flanked by Gallows and Anderson. "We'll use you on the house shows this week leading up to the Rumble. Get you some more ring time before the Pay Per View."
"Thanks," Skylar can only manage one words as she beams, sweaty and high on adrenaline.
Skylar leans against the cool wall to catch her breath. Someone thrusts a water bottle in front of her as she bends over stretching out her back. Her eyes follow the arm up to find Finn's face looking down at her. He wiggles the bottle a bit to get her to snap out of the blank stare he's receiving.
"Hunter wants us to meet with him," Finn says bluntly. "I'll meet you in his office in ten minutes."
"Sure," Skylar nods. "Any idea what he wants?"
Finn shrugs as he starts to walk off down the busy hall. Skylar takes a sip of the cold water and heads to the locker room to grab a towel. Without even coming to a stop she merely grabs the soft terry cloth and turns back out of the room to go meet Hunter and Finn. She can hear the crowd going mad for Seth and Elias as she traverses the backstage labyrinth. She walks into the open door of Hunter's office and sits down at the desk. Finn enters the small room a few moments later and sits in the empty chair next to Skylar. Hunter is right behind the Irishman, closing the door behind himself.
"Sky, great job tonight," Hunter starts. "Dogg told you that we're going to put you on all the house shows this week. We'd also like to put the two of you in an on screen relationship." Skylar can feel her face fall, but she stays quiet hoping Hunter will explain further. "Well, not an all out relationship yet. But we want to tease one."
"You're sure?" Finn asks the boss.
Hunter confirms, "We'll start the tease in a segment later tonight. I don't even know if tease is the right word. But it's going to be an implied relationship." Hunter thumbs through a few pieces of paper before looking back at the two of them. "Go see the production crew for a pre-tape."
Skylar is the first to her feet. She quickly shakes Hunter's hand and exits the small office. She can hear Finn's footsteps behind her, but she doesn't slow down for him to catch up. She just keeps walking until she reaches the small area set up for pre-tapes deep in the arenas backstage. The camera crew smiles at her when the see her coming, eager to have something to do. As Finn arrives at her side the head director explains the scene.
They take their places in front of the camera and the director cues filming to begin. Finn starts out talking about the men's Royal Rumble match and his feud with Braun Strowman. Numbly she only half listens as she feels his arm snake around her waist pulling her body close to his. As uncomfortable as she is she doesn't let it show to the camera. She makes a quick statement about the historic, first ever, women's Royal Rumble and the director signals the end of their segment.
The moment the camera goes out she steps away from Finn. He follows her to gorilla at a distance where they meet up with Gallows and Anderson. The clip plays and moments later the three of them escort Finn to the ring for a match against Braun. Finn signals for the good brothers to head back up the ramp, leaving Skylar alone at ringside for his match. The brawl is over quickly as Finn gets decimated by the much larger Strowman. Skylar helps him to the back after the big man gets the pin. As they clear the curtain she shrugs his arm off of her shoulders and starts back to the women's locker room.
"Sky wait," he calls after her.
She barely acknowledges his voice, but he hurries to catch up with her. She stops when his fingers lace around her wrist. "What?" She asks seemingly annoyed.
He steps closer to her, his cocky grin spreading across his face. "So you're sure about dis Seth Rollins ting? I mean... What we had before... Steph and Hunter see it... What I'm trying to say is..." Without any warning his lips are on hers.
She slaps at his sweaty chest and pushes away from him. A loud crack echoes through the hall as her hand connects with his face. "What the fuck Ferg!?" She spits.
His hand reaches up to touch the sore spot on his jaw. "Come on," he reaches for her arm, which she deflects. "What does Seth Rollins have dat I don't?" He barely stops long enough to take a breath before verbally assaulting her with his next gem. "You and me are so good together..."
"No! No we aren't! We're an awful mess," she fires back at him. "Our entire relationship was a disaster! You fucking cheated on me. A lot! With any girl that so much as looked at you! You broke my heart Ferg. I only patched things up with you and tried to be friends because I didn't want to have to tell Kenny he was right about you," she sneers at him. "I'll play nice in front of the camera but you'd better keep your fucking hands off of me otherwise."
Sky turns on her heel leaving Finn standing in the hall dumbfounded. She storms into the locker room to grab her cell phone and escapes to find somewhere more private before anyone can ask what's wrong. She walks for a few minutes until she finds a hallway stacked with box upon box of cords and cables. She shoots Kenny a text and a few moments later her phone is ringing.
A deep breath and she answers the long distance call. "Hey Hoshi," her voice trembles as she nears tears.
"Everything okay, Koneko?" He asks with worry in his tone.
"No..." She feels the first tear roll down her cheek.
Kenny starts to panic, "What's wrong, Sky?"
"Ferg just kissed me... And I went off on him," she pauses.
"He did what!?" Kenny's anger is dry and seething. "What the hell? Does he know you're seeing someone?"
"Of course he knows," she huffs. "He's just a jealous asshole."
"Piece of shit finally realizes what he's missing," Kenny grumbles. "I'm going to fuck him up the next time I see him."
"I tried for so long to pretend that things were okay with us. I never wanted to tell you how right you were," a gulping sob escapes her. "I hate admitting that. I feel so stupid right now. I'm such an idiot."
"Sky, don't be ridiculous," Kenny lets out a relieved breath. "You were young and in love. We all make those mistakes. You've just got to learn from them... And punch him in the fucking mouth next time he comes near you."
"I did slap him pretty hard. Admittedly, I'd rather watch you punch him... Again," she tells her brother with a sniffly giggle. "But they're putting us in an on-screen relationship."
"Do you need me to come there?" His tone is completely serious.
"No.." She admits. "You don't have to do that. As much as I miss you, that's a hell of a flight just for that. Even if I would like to see you clock him." She looks up to see Seth leaning on the corner of the wall across from her not wanting to interrupt her call. "Hoshi, let me let you go. Seth just showed up. Can I call you back when I get to the hotel?"
"Of course, Koneko. I'll be around," he tells her.
The two siblings say goodbye with plans to continue their conversation later. She waves Seth over to her spot on top of a rolling storage crate. The Architect strides across the narrow hall and puts his body between Skylar's knees as she sits perched on the large case. His hands reach out to wrap around her waist. She bows her head down and gently bumps her forehead against his.
"You okay?" He asks as though he already knows the answer. "I overheard. I came to find you when Finn came into the locker room and told Gallows and Anderson that you guys had a fight?"
"He said that?" She can barely believe Seth's words.
Seth nods, "Well, not in those exact words. But that's what I picked up from him."
She scoots closer to the edge of the cord storage and wraps her arms around his shoulders. "I don't even want to talk about it. It's bad enough that I need to be doing an 'implied relationship' with him." He nuzzles his head into her chest as he lets her get everything out. "Sometimes guys are just too complicated." She can feel his body start to shake as he laughs at her statement, "What?"
"Guys are complicated?" He asks with a chuckle. "I think you may have that just a little bit twisted, Sky."
"Oh is that so?" She looks down at him with a grin.
His brown eyes twinkle mischievously as he looks up at her crystal blues, "I'm just happy to see that smile."
Their flirting is cut short as Finn rounds the corner of the hallway cautiously. Seth positions himself in front of her protectively, not wanting Finn anywhere near his girlfriend.
"Can we talk?" Finn breaks the awkward silence in the hall.
She looks at him skeptically. His ring gear coupled with a t-shirt makes him look like he's not wearing any pants. She nods and hops off of the black crate. He offers her a fresh water bottle as they walk to the next intersecting hallway. The refreshing liquid cools her throat as she takes a long sip. He turns to face her as they reach the end of the hall.
"About before.. And dis morning..." The Irishman seems to struggle with his words. "I... I'm sorry." She starts to say something but he holds up a finger to stop her. "I overreacted. Yer an adult and ya can make yer own decisions." He pauses as she watches him try to decide what to say next. "Listen Sky. I love you. I tink a part of me will always love you. And I want to see ya happy... I tink seeing you two together dis morning just pushed me over da edge. I've never had to see you with anyone else before."
Skylar folds her arms over her chest, "Can't imagine how awful that must feel." The sarcasm drips almost tangibly from her tongue.
"I deserved dat," Finn winces.
"You did," Skylar confirms.
"What I'm tryin' ta say is I'm sorry. For everyting. Today, yesterday, Japan. An I can understand if you don't forgive me," Finn's face reflects genuine sincerity. "I acted like a jackass. I should never a kissed ya." He looks down at his feet sheepishly.
"No, you shouldn't have," Skylar shifts her weight to the other foot.
"I'm sorry," he says again. "I'll leave you two alone." He looks back over his shoulder at Seth sitting on the crate where Skylar had been minutes before pretending to scroll on his phone. "I promise. I won't even look at 'cha unless we're on camera."
The look of sorrow on his face almost makes her feel bad for him. He takes a few steps backwards from her before turning to retreat down the hall past Seth. The Kingslayer hops to his feet as the Demon King passes him with his head down. Seth walks down the hall to Skylar and takes her hand in his.
"Everything okay between you two now?" He gives her hand a squeeze.
"As okay as it's ever going to be I think," she shrugs. "So, were you serious about letting me ride with you?"