Rhea's Web.

I Can See It In Your Eyes*

Y/N's eyes swept over the arena, a dramatic pause hanging in the air. "Last week, I didn't go too far," he stated, his voice ringing with conviction, perfectly mirroring the manipulative words Rhea had just fed him. "You're the ones to blame! You goaded Edge into goading me!" 

He pointed an accusatory finger at the jeering audience. "Remember when I got called 'Edge Lite'? "What did you do?!" Y/N screamed, rising partially from his chair, Rhea's hand still firmly in his. 

"You cheered! Don't be shy now! What about when I got gunk-dunked on my head? You cheered and ruined my gear!" He gestured wildly, reliving the perceived injustices. "He showed up and screwed the biggest moment of my career, and you cheered this on! You!" He slammed his open palm against his chest, self-righteous indignation practically radiating off him.

Miz nodded solemnly. "You know what, Y/N? I think this entire arena needs to cheer you for this perseverance of the human spirit!" He spread his arms, inviting applause, a thin, patronizing smile playing on his lips. "You're a survivor, Y/N. A true inspiration."

Then, his tone shifted, becoming sly and inquisitive. "But I have to ask... we talked a lot about jail. My sources tell me you were only held in county jail for... a few hours."

Rhea's head snapped up, the protective veneer shattered, "What did you just say?!" she demanded, her voice a low snarl as Rhea and Y/N shot to their feet, their chairs scraping loudly across the canvas. 

They squared up to Miz, their bodies radiating menace. Miz, caught off guard, stumbled backward, a genuine look of fear flashing across his face. "Woah, woah, look, look, look!" he stammered, holding up his hands in surrender. "He's wearing $500 sneakers, Y/N! It's just a question! What are you going to tell me next? You were making gruel omelettes and getting chased by Dementors?!"

The barb, meant to mock Y/N's exaggerated tale, only inflamed Rhea. Her eyes narrowed into slits, and a dangerous smirk touched her lips. She took a slow, deliberate step forward, Y/N matching her stride.

They backed Miz into a corner of the ring, his retreat cut off by the ropes. Miz looked desperately for an escape route, his usual bravado completely evaporated.

Just as the tension reached a boiling point, the unmistakable opening chords of Finn Bálor's theme music hit. The arena exploded as Finn, looking concerned and serious, strode purposefully down the ramp, his gaze fixed on Y/N.

"Y/N, man, what are you doing?" Finn called out, his voice laced with genuine worry. He entered the ring, stepping between Y/N and the cowering Miz, putting himself in harm's way. "This whole thing with Edge doesn't work out the way you think it will. You already went to jail, Y/N. It's gone too far. Just walk away, because if you don't, you will have no choice but to let it out, and then all hell breaks loose."

Rhea's head snapped to Y/N, her grip tightening on his hand. "I don't know what he's talking about," Y/N whispered back to Rhea, not into the mic, his eyes wide with a practiced innocence. "He's delulu."

Rhea's tight-lipped expression softened slightly, reassured by his quick denial, but her eyes remained fixed on Finn.

"Why are you here, Finn?" Y/N asked, his voice now colder, annoyed by the interruption.

"I'm here to set you straight, Y/N," Finn replied, his voice firm.

"Set me straight?" Y/N scoffed. "How about you focus on your own career and stop worrying about me?"

Rhea stepped forward, placing herself squarely between Y/N and Finn, her gaze piercing. "Yeah," she drawled, her voice dripping with venom, "how long has it been since you've been a champion, Finn? Y/N is a champion. I'm going to be a champion. It sounds like you're jealous of Y/N."