_______I'm drinking not to guess, I go out just so I can reforget...

Stupefaction is the kind of infrequent emotion that rarely finds a place among Rollins' distraught entity. Rage and remorse are the ones usually unleashing inside of his brain, the entirety of his dark thoughts set free in a mess of crimson liquid and cries of agony.

But that day proclaims the birth of a brand new feeling crashing upon the remains of a smothered heart : relief.

The covered joy of discovering some very familiar faces knocking at his door, willing to bury the hatchet once and for all.

Seth apprehensively scrutinises each parcel of their skin as they're heading to town, the atmosphere almost fully released from its perpetual oppresive tension.

The usual unbearable silence is overshadowed by endless small talk attempting to put Rollins at ease, his muscles so tense that it'd elude the knowledge of none.

The frequent fights replaced by benevolent aspirations and reassuring words coming from the same mouths that used to throw the most hurtful insanities at him. His mind becomes utterly confused, unable to grasp any bit of the strange encounter.

Once they eventually arrive at the restaurant's spot, Zayn is designated as the orders' responsible whilst the other three look for a decent table to install themselves at.

A couple of minutes spent bickering over which place was actually the perfect one between Owens and Graves ignites some tender memories inside of Rollins' mind - full of dust, ashes and taboos.

He immediately pictures the countless times him and Corey argued over whose tattoos were actually the most aesthetic or the animated conversations he used to have with Kevin regarding his marriage's disbelief.

These precious flashbacks take him right back to a period of his life he'd cherish until his last breath and beyond because then, he was free.

Liberated from all of the unforgiven actions he since done, the guilt of carrying his former friends scars' responsability and the burden of living through another day of sorrow and regrets.

For a split moment, he recovers that gentleness he lacked so much of.

But even the most magnificient flower can get brutally removed from the ground, its heavenly view not enough for the one admiring it, one's bad habits seemingfully never changing.

A furtive glance in Zayn's direction is enough to infuriate him, his mood totally shifting from one extreme to the other in a matter of seconds.

The Canadian who apparently decided to join Banks' stable, participating in the backstage's strategies only, already shows some fragile loyalty in Seth's opinion.

How ironical is it that the most infamous traitor that ever graced the company is at the same time victim of obvious trust issues ?

"You're already bonding with the enemy, Sami ?" Rollins provokes whilst slowly approaching the two, causing them to break their amicable hug. The way the former Shield member pronounced the Canadian's name is full of disdain, overly articulated and with a touch of wickedness.

"Carmella's been loyal to me for years now. Can't really say the same thing about you, can I ?" He retords on a dark, sarcastic tone that is so unusual of Zayn that Kevin immediately meddles between the two men, pushing his acolyte away from Rollins.

Any insult directed towards one of his friends always sparked a fire inside of the wrestler's pure soul.

Graves shakes his head, his disapproval ultimately too much to handle as he's thinking out loud : "I told you so." Seth isolates himself in front of the establishment, the cold air always able to tame his excessive reactions.

"I get that you're Seth Freaking Rollins and that you have a reputation to live up to, but still." Owens' voice reaches to the Architect's agitated mind, mockery becoming his best weapon to try and pacify the situation.

At first Rollins expects that, if he'd stay silent long enough, his ROH's acquaintance would vanish out of sight. Except some persons are harder to get rid of than others.

He passes his filthy fingers - stained by all the blood and tears they caused - on his exhausted features, hopelessly attempting to come down to his senses.

"I don't want to be Seth anymore. I just want to be Colby." He murmurs lowly, praying that Kevin couldn't hear any bit of his lamentation.

Unfortunately for The Reaper God's never been much on his side and often times, the opposite of what Rollins was wishing for happened.

"Then what's the fucking problem ?" The Canadian eventually raises his voice, growing tired of the mindgames and illusions.

"I forgot who Colby used to be, alright ?"He rages in a final explosion of all the emotions that were pilling up deep within, sucking the life out of him for so long.

Quickly Seth realizes that the first time he ever said those heavy words was way easier. Because for some unknown reason, he could sense that Sasha would understand his situation, that she wouldn't judge him like the others always did.

But as much as his shameful secret was a terrible burden for him to carry, the one coming from a frightening emptiness seems suddenly much worst.

__________

The cold of the night matches the state of his soul, the shadows of his constant rage finally replaced by the smoke of acceptance.

For the first time in forever he's conducting an introspection which proves to be tricky - figuring out others' motives seems easier than to do so for his own.

Suddenly an unrecognizable sound echos through the stairwell leading to the rooftop, putting yet another end to his attempt at comprehending himself.

Rollins grants the intruder with a quick look, fatigue resting in his eyes and a million of unanswered questions crashing upon his heart.

"I knew you'd be there." A feminine and chuckling voice resounds in the quiet of the area, still not perfectly perceivable through the thick shadows.

Once her elegant silhouette exits the darkness and her sight turns in more than just a possible mirage, Rollins adopts a confident posture, still striving to lure her.

But how the Devil's children could fall for each other's favourite tricks ?

Instead Sasha takes place besides him, her enchanting scent proving to be as hypnotic as the lies she'd spit out. While staring at the sleeping city, the two awaken cursed souls share a moment of disgrace, both their masks falling apart.

He offers a very personal take on what she's been chasing for her entire existence : glory. He tirelessly repeats that no matter how resilient she'd be, the spotlight would always be too blinding, gradually destroying everything around her until she's the last one standing. A bitter, soulless and insane version of her, forced to live through the pain she'd decided to inflict herself to begin with.

"You don't need to be champion to be the very best in the industry." Rollins concludes his monologue with a meaningful statement, admiting not only that his former view on the business was incorrect but also that things he's done in order to thrive in it caused nothing but endless regrets.

She listens carefully, absolutely absorbed by his tale yet prepared to put a light over his reasoning's flaws.

But at the last minute she changes her mind and, instead of entering a sterile debate, she reminds him of a very specific conversation they had, long time ago.

"It's not like somebody pushed me to be so obssessed anyways, right ?" Sasha exhales, sarcastically throwing a precious information right in his hands.

Either he picks up on it and ravives an old intimacy, either he doesn't and let the unspoken words become new wounds.

"You remembered that ?" A smile ultimately curves the side of his devious mouth, sincerely showing her a piece of his mind.

Their mutual connection on the instant travels them both to a blurry scene, hazy advices and shared mindset.

p e r f o r m a n c e  c e n t e r ; 2012 - 05:42 pm

A freshly crowned champion walks around as if he's owning the place, the NXT title never leaving his shoulder and his scornful stare never stopping upon anybody - none of his fellow wrestlers hopeful come close to his supremacy.

A newly signed talent arrives in the reknown building, timidity exuding out of her and the rare looks gracing her causing her to fluster, embarassment written all over her.

Eyes meet for a split second, then a minute or possibly two as one is utterly intrigued, and the other extremely scared that she'd already rub somebody the wrong way after such a short amount of time being with the company.

An exercise as tedious as it gets for one, thriving over the rest of the pack whilst it appears like the most nerve-wrecking experience for the other.

Infinite arrogance recognizable in one's tone whilst the other's promo awfully lacks in confidence. A couple of laughters are shared right and left, most considering themselves above the hesitant girl but in reality probably couldn't hang with her inside of the ring.

Seth lays his piercing gaze upon the new face - or was she really ? - surprisingly finding something special deep within her heart. He quickly notices that she's the kind that surely struggles for a while but once they'd find their spark, they'd effortlessly silent the doubters' presumptions.

A playful flame dances in his dark eyes, his head resting upon his clasped hands as he's patiently waiting for the recruit to separate herself from the group. Once she follows his noiseless orders he takes the trouble to mimick her movement, stopping right in front of an unoccupied ring.

The second she notices his presence marks the start of a life changing's  exchange, but since she's not yet aware of that fact, she fixes her gaze on her feet as she finds herself uncapable of facing such a radiant boldness.

"You need to understand that the person you are outside of these walls and the one you need to be in order to succeed here are two very different things." Rollins explains on a collected tone, ashtonishing the girl standing inches from him, seemingfully clueless about his intentions.

Seth forces the girl to look him deep in the eyes, his fingers landing on the side of her chin, urging her to proccess each valuable word coming out of his mouth.

"Don't let others' perception of you trouble your judgement, ever." He lets out whilst lowering his voice, spitting out to her what he wishes the younger version of him knew all along.

An uncomfortable silence rapidly takes place as she apparently can't take her eyes off him, a gleam of gratitude and incomprehension shining in them. She eventually nods back at him, her mind still trying to grasp the mysterious sentences he randomly threw at her.

Before she can ask him about his motives Rollins already vanished in a sea of people, his initial goal fulfilled and his interest sparked.

r o o f t o p ; 2016 - 02:16 am

Silly smiles are plastered on their faces, the two cursed kids remembering of their humble beginning and first meeting. Neither would ever thought that such a simple encounter would turn to be so crucial for both's evolution.

"We need you Rollins, and we may not like each other very much-" Sasha starts explaining, attempting for the last time to convince him to join her team.

"Yeah, to say the least." Rollins' sense of humour slightly breaks the facade for a short moment, causing Banks to roll her eyes before she continues her important statement.

"But for some reason I feel like you need us too." She voices, her gaze diverting toward the few stars perceivable through the pollution and darkness, slowly titling her head to the side.

The confident woman before his very eyes could provoke his surprise but what actually does is her words' precision, aiming directly at his heart and leaving him no chance to avoid the strike.

He catches himself remarking that, even after all the atrocious things he's done to her along the road, he reached his aspiration : learn her to kill in order to survive.

An intelligible murmur concludes their unspoken agreement, each finding their own reasons to accept it, both appeased by their decision.

________

E L E N A ;

Oh how I love writing Rollins' vulnerable side + yep, the rooftop's scene is definitely a reminder of chapter 13, just to show how much things have changed since.

+ Hopefully the flashback was useful and agreeable to read!

If you enjoyed it please let me know your take on what you liked / think will happen next.

love you lots xxx