𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐦 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐞𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐰. most of the crew had cleared out, the fans long gone, the echoes of the night still bouncing faintly off the walls. seth leaned back against the wall, one boot crossed over the other, arms folded across his chest as he stared down at the cracked tile floor like it held answers.
his match was hours ago. the adrenaline had faded. the pain had set in. but he wasn’t in a rush to go anywhere. he heard footsteps before he saw anything. he didn’t look up right away. just spoke, voice low and a little rough. ❝ you ever notice how loud the silence gets after a show like that? ❞
he let the words hang there for a beat, then glanced over, eyes shadowed with something unreadable. ❝ doesn’t matter how many people scream your name, how many cameras flash, how many headlines you make- ❞ he paused, rubbing his thumb against his palm absently ❝ when it’s over, and you’re alone with the comedown... it’s just quiet. ❞
there was no judgment in his tone. just truth. the kind of truth that doesn’t get said out loud very often, not in their world. not when everyone's too busy playing a role.
he tilted his head slightly, studying the person in front of him. someone who, if he was being honest, fascinated the hell out of him. someone who burned a little brighter, a little hotter, and carried it like a curse. ❝ you look like someone who knows exactly what i’m talking about. ❞ he said, voice softer now. ❝ so go ahead. tell me i’m wrong. ❞
he wasn’t smiling. not this time. he was just waiting to see if someone else was brave enough to admit it too.