A/N: Couldn't resist the very apparent chemistry between Seth and the newest member of team Raw's backstage interviewing team. So let's run with it! Happens within the story of WWE.
Still working on Less Than Likely, that won't be confusing at all.
XXX
Seth Rollins had a bit of a reputation around here. He called himself The Man, and it caught on quickly. So he had no choice but to live up to it every day. No matter the cost. The cost was high, he'd known that from the time he won the NXT championship. If he wanted greatness, he could never settle, he had to keep pushing, and that could be his undoing. It had already cost him Dean and Roman, it already cost him a wedding in the idyllic church his mom had gotten married in, and it already cost him his mentor when, somehow, it still wasn't enough. Hell in a Cell was two weeks away, and it could be his chance to redeem himself. All he wanted was to show Hunter that his faith was not misplaced and that Seth's injury hadn't stolen his inner fight. He wanted to be the best again.
He didn't have that many friends in the locker room anymore. Roman was unfalteringly loyal. It didn't matter how much Seth had done to hurt him, it didn't matter all the nasty things he said, if he needed him, Roman would be there. But oh how Seth hated to admit he needed Roman. The two kept their distance for the most part, with a silent understanding of where they stood. Seth spent most of his time tagging along with the New Day or hanging out with the girls. The lack of direct competition helped.
"Charlotte wanted to do a moonsault off the top of the cell," Sasha Banks was telling him and Bayley at catering.
Seth snickered, "what'd Vince say about that one?"
"What do you think?"
"They're woooomen," he put on his best Vince McMahon impression, "no one wants to see women throw punches."
They all laughed. Even though how the fight shaped up was dependent on their personal strategies, certain moves were green-lit, and others were not. In dangerous match types like Hell in a Cell, that list got longer and longer. Everything in wrestling was drummed up, it was a performance as much as it was a fight, and management wanted it to look a certain way.
"I'm surprised she even told you her secret weapon," Bayley commented.
"Only because he vetoed it," Sasha shrugged, "plus I mean, we go way back her and me. I can't wait to punch her in the face, but I also can't wait to make history with her."
"What about your match Seth?" Bayley asked, but got no response, he was staring off, distracted. "Hello? Earth to Rollins?"
"Hmm?" he snapped his head back towards them "oh um, yeah, Vince is out of touch."
The two look at each other and laughed.
"We weren't talking about that anymore, were we?"
Sasha shook her head and laughed, "what were you looking at?"
"Or who?" Bayley said with a wide smile. She nodded to the other side of the room where a young woman was talking to Chris Jericho. "Looks like Charly Caruso's back."
"I heard she got pulled up from NXT," Sasha craned her neck to get a better view and Seth pushed her down by the shoulder.
"You two are being obvious."
"So is she here to stay?" Sasha asked him, "they wanted a Renee-equivalent on Raw, right?"
"I don't know," he said through gritted teeth, "I don't even know her."
"Do you want to?" Bayley teased, "cause she's coming over here."
"What?" he sat up abruptly while his friends laughed.
"Hi," a sweet voice said from behind him. It belonged to a petite woman with short hair and deep brown eyes. She smiled nervously at him as he turned around.
"I'm Charly, I wanted to introduce myself because it looks like we'll have a segment later today with everything that's happening for your match."
"Oh, so I'm your first victim, yeah?" he asked with a flirtatious smile.
She blushed slightly, "not exactly first, but it's a bit of a promotion."
"Are you on Raw for good?" Bayley asked, leaning in on her elbows.
"Yeah, looks like it!" she grinned, "I might get some NXT TakeOvers shows, but mostly I'll be here with you guys."
"So you're like, the new Renee?" Sasha jumped in, despite side glances from Seth that he thought very obviously said it was time for her and Bayley to get the hell out of there.
"I don't think there can ever be a new Renee," she responded with another sweet smile, "but they have some pretty big plans. As long as all of the stepping stones go well."
"Like our interview tonight?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Yeah, like that."
He nodded, smiling cooly, "I got you."
"Thank you. I'll see you guys later," Charly waved to them as she walked off.
Sasha fixed her eyes on him, smirking, "she's cute."
"Shut up." He felt his cheeks flushing.
"Aw, Seth's got a crush," Bayely laughed, "guess we'll have to share him."
"Hmm, lame. There's already enough competition for his attention."
"I hate both of you."
The two laughed at him again and Seth slumped back in his seat, grumbling.
XXX
After Stephanie announced that Chris Jericho had an opportunity to get into the Hell in the Cell match, Seth was seething as he made his way backstage. Still, a smile broke out onto his face as he saw Charly talking to one of the camera guys.
"Hey there," he said smoothly as he came up behind her.
She turned smiling, "hey, how ya doing?"
He sighed heavily, "I'll save it for the interview, give you some gold."
"Alright," she nodded, getting into place and tussling her thick waves.
"So first big interview up on the main roster," he said, following her, "you nervous?"
"Uh, well, yeah. A little," she giggled.
"Don't be," he said soft and thick, his eyes flickered down to hers. "I meant it, I got you."
She swallowed hard and looked down, blushing with a smile. He bit his lip, man she was something else.
"Ready?" the producer asked and the both of them nodded. She had to stand close to him in order to get in the frame given their height difference.
"Seth, can I get your thoughts on this announcement of your match with Chris Jericho tonight?" she asked in her announcer voice, clear and confident.
He snickered, "Charly, Charly, beautiful Charly," he smiled slyly as he saw her breath catch ever so slightly, "I know you're new around here but this is sort of Stephanie McMahon's thing. She loves to play chess with all of us around here, she loves the game and she's damn good at it. She knows you're only as good as the pieces you have, and let's be honest, I was the best piece she ever had. She can't control me anymore so she's trying to manipulate Kevin Owens."
Charly nodded, listening carefully.
"So if she wants to turn this match into an episode of Table for Three, she's gonna find out just what I'm capable of. I'm going to beat Jericho tonight, and then I'm gonna take the Universal Title from Kevin Owens at Hell in a Cell and we'll see what happens then. I'm not gonna be another cog in the machine, what I am is the man who's going to destroy that machine piece by piece."
He smiled at her again, god she was pretty. "Welcome to Raw, Charly."
Sauntering off, the producer called cut. She gave the microphone back and smiled over at him.
"That good enough for you?" he asked with a chuckle.
"Yeah it was good," she said quickly and unconvincingly.
"What?"
"Well," she smiled up at him, "it wasn't the truth."
His stomach did a backflip. "What do you mean?"
"All you said about Stephanie and burning all of this to the ground, you didn't mean it. You couldn't even say it with conviction."
"You psychoanalyze all your interviewees?" he raised an eyebrow.
"No," she tucked a piece of hair behind her ear, "I was just curious. Seems like something else is going on there."
"So intuitive," he smirked.
"It's part of the job."
"Well maybe if you work on me enough you'll eventually get it out."
"Good to know," she started to turn to walk off, but he caught her.
"Hey Charly," he called, she looked back over her shoulder, "The New Day boys and me are hanging out at the bar tonight. You should tag along, celebrate your first day."
"Yeah, okay," she smiled, "sounds fun."
XXX
"No no no," Xavier was laughing at one of Kofi's stories later in the hotel bar. "That is not how it happened!"
"Oh, it is too!" Big E agreed, "You were standing there, full suit, tie, handing out resumes."
The three of them laughed hysterically and Charly smiled at their enthusiasm. She was sitting next to Seth in a booth, her arm brushing up against his as she sipped her drink. The drink he had bought her, to be specific. He leaned into her ear and whispered.
"They're always like this."
"Must be a lot of fun," she grinned over at him.
"Never a dull moment."
"Is this what you do all the time?"
"Once a week or so," he shrugged, "it's good to relax. You haven't been on the road yet, have you?"
"Only a little, tours and such."
"You'll be grateful for that margarita when you've spent all week traveling, trust me."
She laughed and took a bit of the salt on her finger, dipping it quickly onto her thumb. He felt his heart drop into his stomach.
"How many more of those scotches until I get that off-record interview about the Authority?"
He chuckled, "I'm well-practiced, love, but you're welcome to try."
"Oh well, I'll find a way," she smiled, their faces very close together, the heat building between them.
"I bet you will," he bit his bottom lip.
"Oy!" Kofi shouted at them from across the table. "No sub-grouping!"
"Sorry, what were we talking about boys?" Seth asked with a laugh.
"That time Woodsy convinced Big E to play Five Nights at Freddy's."
"Why. Why can't I just take my chair and beat that damn bunny to death, huh?" Big E crossed his arms and they all laughed.
Charly sipped the last of her drink and Seth glanced over at her.
"You want another of those?" he offered.
"I'm alright, thanks, though. Think I'll head up actually."
"Oh, you sure?" Xavier frowned, "we ignored you the whole night."
"No, it was fun, really! I'm just exhausted."
"Let me walk you up?" Seth asked softly.
"You don't have to do that," she said with a sly smile and a tilt of her head.
"I want to. The halls of hotels are actually as dangerous as a back alley."
"Well, can't argue with that," she laughed, "goodnight guys."
He walked her to the elevator, watching as her hair flirt with her bare shoulders.
"So that's the New Day huh?"
"Yep," he nodded, "good luck controlling an interview with them."
"Ugh tell me about it."
"You're doing okay, by the way," he said quietly as they stepped into the elevator.
"Yeah?"
"I know it's intimidating, your first days on the main roster circuit. But you're doing just fine. Better than fine, actually, you're killing it."
"That's really thoughtful, Seth."
"It's true."
She smiled and the elevator dinged on her floor and she led him to a room at the end of the hall. "This is me,"
He nodded, waiting for her to make a move. Instead, she sighed and looked him straight in the eye.
"Look, I hate the bullshit. Can we just cut it?"
"Sure," he was taken aback by her forwardness, but feeling confident in what she was about to say next.
"You're expecting an invitation in, aren't you?"
"Well wouldn't mind," the corner of his mouth turned upwards and he looked her up and down. "I am the Raw welcoming committee after all."
"Seth," she shook her head, "I can't."
"Boyfriend?"
"No,"
"Girlfriend?"
"Still no, it's just-"
"Married to your work? Training part-time to become a nun? Vowed your dead fiancé that you'll never take another lover? I've heard them all baby," he snickered.
"None of the above. It was really sweet of you to invite me out and walk me home, I had a great time,"
"But?"
"But I just got here. Today. I can't go sleeping with one of the faces of the company on my first night. What will people say?"
"That you're lucky, I'd hope."
"I am," she laughed and looked down blushing, "but I worked really hard to get there and I can't jeopardize that. I won't have people thinking I slept my way to the top."
He nodded, "alright, but I don't give up very easily, if that's alright by you."
She bit her lip, a grin breaking out on her face. "I think I could be okay with a little chasing."
"Maybe once I get that title around my waist, you'll change your mind."
"Yeah, maybe."
"Goodnight, Charly," he kissed the top of her head gingerly, "welcome to Raw."