With the tension finally broken, the atmosphere shot back up to a lively buzz. After a few more minutes filled with congratulations, hearty pats on the back, and shared inside jokes, Vince clapped his hands together with enthusiasm.
"Alright, fantastic job tonight, everyone! Now get out of here and go celebrate. The night is still young!"
One by one, the team started to pack up and trickle out of the locker room. As they passed by Maya, who lingered at the back, a few wrestlers exchanged knowing, playful glances.
Hawk gave Animal a playful nudge in the ribs, Mark bit his lip to stifle a laugh, and even Eddie couldn't help but smirk as he tossed his title over his shoulder.
In less than a minute, the once boisterous locker room was completely empty.
Only Vince and Maya were left.
Vince glanced around the suddenly quiet, cluttered space, blinking in surprise. "...Why did everyone leave so quickly?"
Maya's cheeks were already turning a noticeable shade of pink.
Neither of them responded to the question, and the silence between them grew heavier and more awkward.
In an attempt to ease the tension, Vince flashed a nervous smile. "I swear, those guys sometimes think way too highly of me."
Somehow, that only made things feel even more uncomfortable.
Maya looked down, avoiding his gaze. Vince immediately regretted his words and cleared his throat.
"...Anyway." He softened his voice, stepping a little closer. "Congratulations on tonight. Seriously, Maya. You were absolutely amazing out there."
Maya finally met his eyes.
"That corner suplex..." Vince shook his head in admiration. "I didn't see that coming tonight."
A small, proud smile appeared on Maya's face. "I've been practicing it in secret for weeks."
"It showed. It was flawless. I loved it."
Feeling a bit shy from the direct compliment, she glanced back down at the floor, shifting her weight. "I was... honestly so nervous, Vince."
Vince's expression was one of genuine surprise. "You? Nervous?"
"There were fifty thousand people out there, all screaming," she replied, letting out a soft, breathless laugh.
"I've never wrestled in front of a crowd that big before. When my music hit, I honestly thought my legs might just give out on me."
Vince offered a reassuring smile, his voice shifting to a warm, grounding tone. "Well, no one out there could tell. You looked completely in control from the moment you stepped onto the ramp. You handled that massive arena like a true professional."
He glanced toward the empty doorway, his eyes sparkling with ambition. "And one day... performing for a crowd like that will feel completely normal for you."
Maya tilted her head, curiosity lighting up her face. "What do you mean?"
Vince met her gaze, his confidence unwavering. "One day, IRW will be pulling in crowds like today's every single week. Just wait and see."
For a moment, she simply stared at him, captivated by the strength of his conviction. Then, a soft smile spread across her face.
"I hope that day comes soon."
"It will."
As their conversation faded into silence, the awkwardness that had lingered before melted away, replaced by a warm connection.
Neither seemed in a hurry to move or disrupt the moment. Maya appeared to be wrestling with a thought, taking a small, quiet breath.
"Vince..."
"Yeah?"
"I..." She hesitated, her eyes searching his. "I just wanted to say—"
But before she could finish, the locker-room door swung open with a loud creak.
Mark Rivera peeked into the room, his gaze darting from Vince to Maya and back to Vince again. Gradually, his eyebrows began to inch higher up his forehead.
"...Oh," Mark exclaimed, blinking exaggeratedly. "Huh. I was expecting something a bit different."
Vince frowned, instantly on guard. "What are you getting at, Mark?"
Mark shrugged, feigning innocence as he stepped fully into the room.
"I don't know. You two, all alone in a dim locker room after a huge adrenaline rush. I figured by now you'd have at least started making some wildly entertaining, terrible life choices."
Maya's cheeks turned a vivid shade of red.
Vince pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaling sharply. "For heaven's sake, Mark..."
Mark grinned unabashedly, clearly relishing the moment. "I mean, look at you two. You're both still fully dressed. I have to say, I'm a little let down."
"Get out."
Mark chuckled, raising his hands in mock surrender.
"Alright, alright, I'm being serious. Maya," he gestured toward the corridor with his thumb, "your family is out by the barricades looking for you. They've practically organized a search party."
Maya shot a quick, apologetic glance at Vince. "...I should probably head out."
Vince nodded, his voice softening. "Yeah. You should. Go celebrate with them."
She hesitated for just a heartbeat longer before quietly slipping past Mark and vanishing down the hallway.
Mark watched her leave, waiting until her footsteps faded before turning back to Vince with a huge, mischievous grin.
"So..."
Vince let out a long, weary sigh. "Don't. Just don't say it."
"I wasn't going to say anything!" Mark protested, crossing his arms defiantly.
"You totally were."
"Okay, fine, I totally was," Mark conceded, a smirk playing on his lips.
The two men fell into step, leaving the empty locker room and strolling down the concrete corridor side by side. Mark crossed his arms, his thoughts drifting back to the wild events of the evening.
"But seriously, did you see how Yoichi totally embarrassed himself back there?"
Vince couldn't help but chuckle as they walked. "Oh man, you should've been there, Mark. The guy went from literally threatening my life to looking like a scared schoolboy caught by the principal the moment his dad called him out."
Mark erupted into a hearty laugh that echoed off the walls of the hallway. "I swear, I would've paid good money to witness that meltdown in real time."
"Same here, and so would half the arena," Vince laughed, as the two of them continued down the corridor, basking in the afterglow of a memorable night.