a/n: Hi all! Welcome to the next chapter! Many thanks again to those who have favorited, followed and reviewed this story and/or me, I greatly appreciate it as I write again! I hope you enjoy this chapter, happy reading!

Chapter 3: Stuck in the Middle

The gym's air was thick with the smell of sweat, the sound of clanging metal, and the rhythmic thud of boots on the mat. Audrey tightened her laces, preparing for another day of training with Punk. She'd barely slept over the last two months, thinking about her conversation with Seth and going back and forth with Punk's offer. It felt like there was a storm brewing in her head—doubts swirling around everything from her technique to the tension that was building between her, Seth and Punk.

She wasn't even sure why she ended up agreeing to Punk's offer. On the surface, it seemed like a challenge, one she couldn't ignore. She could still see Seth's warnings in her head, replaying like a broken record, but something about the way Punk had spoken to her, it had been different than before. Maybe it was the sincerity hidden beneath his sharp words, or maybe it was the challenge he offered, daring her to push herself harder.

The door closed behind her as she stepped into the training area, her eyes immediately spotting Punk in the ring, where he was already stretching. His presence felt like a pull, drawing her in despite everything telling her to be cautious. He was watching her with a look that seemed both mocking and something else she couldn't quite put her finger on.

"Are you ready to get your ass handed to you?" Punk's voice broke the silence before she could fully settle in.

Audrey crossed the distance between them with purposeful strides, putting her belongings down before stepping into the ring. "I thought you were supposed to be teaching me, not humiliating me," she shot back, though part of her couldn't help but appreciate the fire in his tone.

Punk smirked. "Teaching? Nah, I'm just here to show you where you're weak. You do the rest."

Audrey shook her head, trying to push past the frustration bubbling beneath her skin. This was what she had agreed to. "Fine," she muttered, rolling her neck to loosen up. "Let's see what you've got."

Training was harder than she had expected. Punk wasn't gentle, even though he had said he wouldn't be. Every move he made, every counter and submission hold, pushed her to her limits. It was different from the routine training with Seth—it wasn't just about technique, but about breaking through her own barriers. He was making her think on her feet, forcing her to improvise in ways she hadn't been trained to do.

There were moments, fleeting ones, when their eyes met and, in those moments, she saw something she couldn't explain. Maybe it was the way he seemed to genuinely watch her, almost as if trying to figure her out, or maybe it was the way he actually complimented her when she got a move right, even if it was brief. It was so out of place that it made her second guess everything. The cocky, infuriating Punk she'd known wasn't supposed to care about teaching anyone.

"Not bad," he said after a particularly challenging move, wiping the sweat from his forehead. "But you've still got a lot of work to do."

Audrey felt the sweat rolling down her back, but the words hit harder than any hit she'd taken in the ring. "I don't need your pity," she snapped, more out of frustration than anything else. "If you think I can't handle this, then—"

"Relax," he interrupted, stepping into her space and putting his hands on her shoulders. His voice was softer, "I'm not pitying you. You've got guts. But you've got to refine that. You can't just throw punches and expect to win. You need strategy, timing. The moments between the moments."

Audrey didn't know why, but those words, the genuine tone that underlined them, struck a chord inside her. She wasn't sure if she hated that she was starting to slowly trust him over these last few weeks, or if she hated that it made sense. She bit her lip to stifle the conflicting emotions and shifted her weight.

But before she could respond, the door to the gym opened again causing both Audrey and Punk to look in that direction, watching as Seth walked in. His eyes immediately locked onto the scene, brows knitting together as he started to make his way toward the ring.

"Everything alright here?" Seth's voice was low, but his tone lacked the tension that had been there before. He'd already had his say with Audrey.

Audrey glanced at him, and Punk let go of her shoulders, the two of them instinctively taking a step back from each other. "Yeah, we're fine." she said.

Seth's gaze flicked between her and Punk, the muscles in his jaw tightening. "You sure you're getting what you need out of this?" His words were softer than usual, but the edge in them was unmistakable—like he was still weighing Punk's intentions. He didn't need to remind Audrey of his earlier warnings, but his protective instincts were clear.

"I'm fine, Seth," she replied, her voice firm but not unkind. "I don't need a lecture."

Punk gave a half-smirk, crossing his arms. "Yeah, we're good. She's tougher than I thought. A little rough around the edges, but she's got potential, thanks to me, of course."

Seth's jaw clenched, and for a moment, the room felt suffocating. His eyes narrowed at Punk, but his voice was tight, restrained. "I'm just saying, be careful with her, alright?"

Audrey stepped forward, leaning against the ropes, feeling the heat between them rise. "I don't need anyone watching over me, Seth," she shot back, her tone sharper now, but her words were measured. "You've made your point."

Seth's frustration was palpable, but he didn't back down. His eyes didn't leave hers, and for a split second, Audrey saw something there—something almost like desperation. He took a slow breath, clearly trying to rein in whatever anger was bubbling beneath the surface. "I know. I'm just...I know how he works. Just don't let him mess with you."

"I'm not some pawn, Seth," Audrey shot back, her voice sharp, a fire igniting within her. "I'm here because I want to be. I can handle this on my own. We discussed this before, remember?" she asked, mentioning their talk from about two months prior.

For a moment, Seth studied her, his gaze searching, as though trying to determine whether she was telling the truth and truly was okay. He didn't answer immediately, his lips pressing into a thin line. Finally, he nodded, although reluctantly. "Alright. Just...be careful. You know where I stand."

Punk's voice sliced through the moment like a sharp edge. "Jesus, lighten up, man," he said, a trace of annoyance creeping into his tone. "I'm not looking to play some twisted game with her. She's got guts, and I'm making her better. End of story."

Seth's gaze snapped to Punk, his expression darkening. "It's not your game I'm worried about, man. It's the mess you leave behind," he growled. His voice dropped even lower, quieter, but still filled with unspoken weight. "Don't mistake her for one of your pawns."

The words hung in the air like an unspoken threat, and the tension between Seth and Punk seemed to fill the room, suffocating it with the unspoken history that neither man was willing to address fully.

With a frustrated exhale, Seth turned sharply, his footsteps heavy as he stalked out of the room, leaving behind an unsettling quiet.

Audrey stood still for a moment, the weight of the conversation pressing down on her and leaving her feeling awkward. More than she already felt. Punk's presence in the room felt heavier now, his usual cocky smirk softened slightly, his arms uncrossing as he leaned casually against the ropes.

"Well, that was fun." He said, breaking the silence. "Who knew Seth had such a flair for the dramatics."

Audrey just stared at the door Seth had exited through, her mind racing. The unspoken conflict between the two men was thick in the air, and even if Seth had left, his warning still hung over her like a shadow.

She turned her gaze back to Punk, still grappling with the emotions. "Maybe he's right..." Audrey said quietly, her voice barely audible over the buzzing in her head. Though it came out more like a question than a statement.

Punk raised an eyebrow, but his gaze softened. "About what?"

"Am I just some pawn in a game?" Audrey's words were loaded with a frustration she wasn't sure how to unpack, Seth's words still fresh in her mind.

Punk took a step closer, his presence almost overwhelming in the now quiet gym. "No," he said simply, but with an intensity that caught her off guard. "You're not a pawn, Audrey. But don't think you're the only one with something to prove."

Her heart skipped a beat. She didn't know if it was the rawness in his tone or the unspoken challenge in his words, but she felt it then; the deep, complicated web they were both tangled in.

For a long moment, neither of them moved. The silence hung heavy, thick with the knowledge that nothing about this was simple.

Finally, Audrey exhaled, shaking her head. "Let's get back to training, I'm ready," she said, her voice steady but with an edge that carried the weight of everything unsaid between them.

Punk's smirk returned, but this time, there was something more underneath it—a recognition of the storm that was only beginning to break.

"Now we're talking," he said, his tone a little more serious than usual.

And as they squared off again, Audrey couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning of something much more complicated than she had ever imagined.

a/n: A bit of a short chapter this time but things will begin to pick up in the next one, I promise! Feel free to leave a review and let me know what you think! Will Seth be able to let things go? Is Audrey a pawn after all? Will Punk change now that he's training with Audrey? We'll find out soon! :)