I didn't think the Tkachuk trade was real until literally right now because I forgot I blocked both teams on twitter and therefore hadn't seen anyone official talking about it. I thought we were manifesting or something
Author's Note: It's been forever since part one so check that out here. A little nervous about this one. Not sure I captured their dynamic well enough, but I hope yall enjoy 🖤💜
January 5, 2026
Brooklyn, NY
Dominik insisted on driving, hoping to avoid fans and paparazzi; but even with their sunglasses and baseball caps, Rhea thought she’d spotted a few that saw them. Riding with Dom again felt odd. She looked out the window and tried to relax, but the betrayal sat in the back of her mind. It didn’t hurt. Well, it was like a pinprick compared to the heartbreak of that day. Her back was straight, barely touching the seat. Her hands rested on her thighs, squeezing them slightly. They were headed to a diner a little bit out of the way with great reviews.
“You good?” Dom asked.
Rhea looked at him. He glanced over at her. The shades on their faces left them unreadable.
“Yeah,” she said. Her stomach growled. “Just hungry.”
“You’re quiet. Sure you wanna do this?”
“Eat breakfast? Yeah I’m sure.”
Dom chuckled. “Alright. I’m ready to eat too.”
Rhea grinned and felt herself sink into her seat, her body finally relaxing. Her eyes caught Dom’s hand moving back and forth on one of the cupholders. She thought about how his hand used to rest on her thigh doing the same movement. She wondered if she was craving touch or craving his touch. Rhea sighed quietly and decided to wait until after breakfast to answer that question.
They got to the restaurant and settled in a booth in the back. They took their sunglasses and caps off. Rhea felt like she was losing a bit of armor, but took comfort in knowing she could read Dom now too.
They both ordered black coffee and water and looked over the menu. Rhea felt Dom looking at her, but every time she looked up, his eyes were fixed on the menu. They placed their orders and sipped their coffees while the waitress walked away.
“So what’s been going on, Reya?” he asked, grinning.
Rhea nearly spit her coffee out as she burst into laughter. She had forgotten all about that. She’d made that mistake so many years ago, even before they had started dating.
Rhea had started learning Spanish. Damian and Dom both spoke it and since they were gonna be around for a while, she figured she might as well learn it. Rhea had been guessing some words and Dom and Damian were also mentioning how Mexican Spanish had different words for things than Puerto Rican Spanish.
“Rey means king,” Dominik said.
“Ooo like the deadbeat?” Rhea asked.
“But he is no king,” Dominik said, rolling his eyes.
Rhea nodded. After a beat she said, “What’s queen? Reya?”
Dom’s and Damian’s eyes met and they laughed. Rhea frowned.
“No,” Dom said. “I mean, that’s a good guess, but it’s not reya. Well, Reya’s more used for a name. For queen in general, it's reina.”
“I forgot all about that,” Rhea said, her laughter dying down.
“It’s too good to forget,” Dom said, smirking.
Rhea looked into his eyes, wondering what else was resurfacing for him.
“You didn’t answer the question,” he said.
“Oh,” Rhea started, trying not to blush. “Um…I mean, nothing new really. Just focusing on work. Getting ready to win these tag team championships. The dogs are doing well. Might get another tattoo.”
Rhea shrugged and Dom laughed and shook his head.
“What’s been going on with you?” she asked.
It was his turn to shrug. “Umm, I guess same old stuff. Mostly been hanging with Finn and JD. Getting back into drawing. Thinking about getting a dog. Finishing up this tattoo.”
“You’ll have to show me your drawings. Definitely get a dog. And I can’t wait to see the tattoo finished. It looks good.”
Dom grinned. “I’m glad you like this one,” he said. He rubbed the arm with his French Polynesian tattoo.
Rhea smiled. “I like a lot of your tattoos…now.”
Dom rolled his eyes, but a smile was still on his face. “I’ve got my sketchbook with me. It’s at the hotel.”
Rhea paused, holding her coffee cup in the air. She smirked. “Was that a line, Dominik Mysterio?”
Dom smiled and grabbed his chin. His eyes drifted off to the side, his pointer finger stroking the end of his mustache like he was thinking deeply. Rhea sipped her coffee and shook her head. He looked at her.
“I guess it depends on what we do after we look at my drawings,” he said, his voice low.
The look in his eye was all too familiar and despite herself she felt warmth in her chest that had nothing to with her coffee. She bit her lip, but her smile still came through. Dom shifted over to the end of his bench when the waitress and a server appeared with their food. Dom shifted back over and the butterflies in her stomach settled. She was sure he had been coming to sit next to her. She wasn’t sure what his move after that was going to be. Did he want someone or did he want her?
“Would you like some hot sauce?” The waitress asked.
Rhea said “no thank you” at the same time Dom said “she doesn’t like hot sauce.”
Rhea smiled and Dom kept his eyes on her while asking for the hot sauce for himself.
The waitress asked if they needed anything else and after they said no thank you, she walked away.
Rhea looked away first. She picked up her breakfast burrito and took a big bite. She watched him pour hot sauce on his eggs and wondered what they would do after looking at his drawings. She imagined herself trying to leave and him pulling her close, whispering sweet nothings and attempting to kiss her neck. Going beyond a makeout session felt wrong. It was too soon and she knew her mind would race and ask complicated questions about things that she might not even really want.
They ate in silence for a bit, stealing glances at each other.
Rhea sipped some water. She looked at Dom and when he met her eyes, she smiled.
“So was this…catch up…about doing things in hotel rooms after looking at your artwork?”
He chuckled. “No, but in the gym, there was a moment…I guess? Wanted to see if you were feeling what I’m feeling.”
“And what is that exactly?”
“Rhea…”
“Dom…”
He sighed and leaned back in his booth. He was thinking.
“I guess I’m wondering if you want me or if you’re just lonely.”
“Do you want me to be honest?” he asked, leaning forward.
“Yes, please be honest,” Rhea said.
Because there’s been enough dishonesty between us, Rhea thought.
“It’s a little of both.”
Rhea nodded slowly. The words stung like a papercut and she hated she felt any pain at all. It’s not like she fully wanted him back. She had enjoyed their moment in the gym and was curious where this catch up would lead them. Maybe a small piece of heart was interested in more, but the rest of her heart wasn’t. And the disappointment from his answer was withering the tiny bloom of hope.
“Did I say something wrong?”
Rhea shook her head. “No. I just wanted you to be honest. But sometimes a moment is just a moment, you know?”
Dom nodded slowly. “So…is this it?”
Rhea smiled. “You want me to be honest?”
Dom smiled. “Yes, please.”
“I don’t know.”
Dom nodded and focused on his plate. Rhea continued to eat as well. The silence was comfortable. Rhea remembered always just wanting to be around Dom. They didn’t have to do anything. Sitting in silence was enough. They were usually close to each other back then: an arm around her shoulder, a leg over his leg. He loved getting his scalp scratched and if he was tired enough, he would fall asleep. Rhea thought she should just go back to her room when they got back. But a part of her wanted to push that boundary. They hadn’t been alone with each other in so long. Would their resolve break? Would muscle memory and hormones take over? Would the betrayal stay front and center? Would he still feel like a danger to her? She felt safe now, but they weren’t alone. Funny because they weren’t alone when he betrayed her. But something about being alone and being vulnerable put her a little bit on edge. If another betrayal was coming it would be worse than before. But Dom didn’t seem interested in Rhea the wrestler…he just seemed interested in her.
She rubbed her temples.
“Overthinking?” he asked.
She rolled her eyes and he laughed.
“What are you overthinking, mami? What’s on your mind?”
Rhea looked at him. “What to do with you.”
“Hmm that means there are options.”
“Don’t push it, Mysterio.”
Dom held his hands up. “I’m gonna finish my food.”
Rhea laughed.
They finished breakfast and headed back to the hotel. Dom was blasting his music and Rhea focused on that instead of her thoughts. In the elevator, Dom pushed the button to his floor and Rhea hesitated. The doors closed and Rhea dropped her hand.
“Coming to see my drawings?” he asked.
He shifted closer to her, but didn’t touch her. Rhea looked at him, wishing she had on her taller boots. She pulled her sunglasses off and reached for his. He smiled.
“Yes,” she said, matter-of-factly. She tried not to smile, but a tiny one broke through.
She followed Dom to his room. He held the door open for her and she walked in. She set their sunglasses on the desk. She pulled her baseball cap off and ran her fingers through her hair. She looked around the room and exhaled when she heard the door close. She turned around as Dom tossed his hat on the desk. He ran his fingers through his hair. He grinned and walked past her. He went rummaging through his bag. He pulled out his notebook. He sat down on the end of the bed and patted the space next to him. Rhea smiled and joined him.
He had all kinds of things in there: tattoo sketches, detailed cars and snakes, gear designs. He couldn't have stopped drawing that long ago, Rhea thought. He skipped past the sketches of Liv and Rhea laughed. She turned back the pages to see. They were good. They captured the spark in her eye well. He had some drawings of Eddie Guerrero, Finn, JD. There was an unfinished drawing. The outline for the head and hair were there, but there were some detailed eyes. Rhea’s brow furrowed. She tilted her head.
“Are these…my eyes?” she asked.
“Oh yeah,” Dom said, reaching for his sketchbook.
Rhea pulled away and brought the sketchbook closer to her face. So maybe he wasn’t just looking for anyone. Maybe he wanted her.
Dom gently tugged on the sketchbook. Rhea looked at him, his face red. She smiled and let it go.
“I just…started on it this morning. No big deal.”
“Did I really look that happy this morning?” Rhea asked, crossing her arms.
Dom shrugged, setting the sketchbook down beside him.
“You did to me,” he said.
Their eyes met. Rhea thought about kissing him, but the betrayal crossed her mind again. They would have to talk about it. But Rhea wasn’t ready for all of that. Dom licked his lips and leaned closer to her. And before the little voice in her head could tell her no, she kissed him. A gentle kiss to the lips. Dom tried to pull her closer, but she put her hand on his chest and sighed.
“As nice as it would be to just have kissing you on my mind,” Rhea started, “I keep thinking about you kissing someone else.”
Dom sighed. “We have to talk about it?
Rhea nodded. “But not today. Today, I have a match to focus on. So I’m gonna go and think about that instead.”
Dom touched her face and nodded. “Okay. We can talk when you’re ready.”
“Or you can let me know when that drawing of me is done. And we can talk then,” she said.
Dom smiled. “Good luck tonight.”
“Thanks, Dom,” she said.
They looked at each other for a minute longer, then separated. Rhea grabbed her cap and sunglasses. She opened the door and Dom grabbed it.
“Text me,” he said.
“You can text me too, you know,” she said, smiling.
“Don’t tempt me. I will,” he said.
“Good,” she said.
“No way am I seeing Rhea Ripley and Dominik Mysterio smiling and talking to each other,” Damian said. He must have been heading to his room.
Rhea looked at Damian. His eyes were wide and his arms were crossed. Rhea laughed.
“Come on, Priest,” Rhea said, walking toward him. “I’ll tell you everything.”
