The Rockstar Champion

Chester held Austin's gaze, not backing down. "Every game has its risks," he replied, his voice steady. "But I'm not here to play games."

Chester sat in the locker room after his debut match against Jeff Jarrett. He didn’t expect to go in and win — it was his first match — but it couldn’t have went more wrong. The referee tripped him twice, smacked him upside the head while counting a pinfall, and he managed to get busted open.

“Let me see. You are still bleeding?” Mina asked, quietly but firmly.

“A little. The doc said it’s not too deep… just… Jeff opened me up pretty good.”

Chester winced as Mina touched the bandage on his forehead. Her fiery gaze hardened at the mention of Jeff Jarrett’s name.

“That… that coward. Could have ended your career first match, yes?”

“Might’ve.” Chester replied, his voice shaking. “But I knew stepping into that ring was gonna be tough. Didn’t expect it to go off the rails like that.”

Suddenly, the locker room door slammed open. One of the backstage personnel rushed in, clipboard in hand, his eyes darting between Chester and Mina.

“Chester, you okay? Vince wants to know if you need more time with the medical staff.”

“No, I’m good.” He shook his head. “It’s… it’s not great, but I don’t need stitches. I’ll be fine.”

“Alright. I’ll let him know. He isn’t happy about all the chaos out there. He’s looking for the referee right now.”

The backstage personnel quickly left the room, leaving the door ajar. From the hallway, the sound of distant shouting could be heard. It was definitely the voice of Vince McMahon, giving an earful to someone — probably the referee.

“I do not like how they treat you.” Mina began, resting a hand on Chester’s shoulder. “That referee, he was so clumsy. You sure it was accident?”

“I hope it was an accident,” Chester’s lips were pressed tight. “But it sure felt personal. Tripping me once, maybe a mistake. Twice? Then smacking me in the head during the pin count? It felt off.”

Mina’s fiery eyes narrowed in suspicion. “I will find him. I will ask him what is going on in that stupid head.” She said, her voice dropping lower, making her accent seem thicker. “No one makes you bleed first time you stand in ring.”

Chester placed his hand gently over hers, trying to calm her. “Hey, hey, let’s just figure this out. I don’t need you fighting my battles, although I appreciate the support.”

Mina tightened her hand over Chester's, her lips curled into a firm line. “Chazzy,” she said, the endearing nickname slipping out with a sincere affection that cut through the tension in the room. “I am not fighting your battles. I am fighting our battles.”

Chester looked at her for a long moment, his eyes filled with an affectionate warmth. There was this strength in Mina, a fire that burned just as fiercely as his own.

“I can handle myself, Yasmina.” he murmured eventually, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. “I don’t want you getting yourself involved in something that might get you hurt.”

"The one getting hurt will not be me," Mina countered, her features hardening with resolve. "I won't let them turn you into a joke."

Chester sighed deeply and leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes. "I just wanted to do this for us," he admitted, a catch in his voice. "For the fans... for everyone who's supported me through the highs and lows. I didn't want my first match to end in blood and controversy."

Mina's hard facade softened at Chester's confession. She reached out and stroked his cheek gently with tattooed fingers. "And you won't. We figure this out together," she reassured him. "You have more strength in you than anyone else I know, Chester. You did not let your past define you, and you will not let this incident define your wrestling career."

Mina's words seemed to soothe him. He reached for her hand on his cheek and smiled faintly. "Thanks, Mina. I needed to hear that."

The locker room door creaked open again, revealing Jeff Jarrett himself. Mina immediately lurched to her feet. A cocky smirk stretched across Jeff’s face, although a trace of genuine concern could be seen in his eyes as he looked at Chester.

“You’re a little banged up,” he said, his smirk growing. “Everything alright?”

Mina placed herself between him and Chester. “You stay away! You cut him open, you sadist!”

The blond’s smirk faltered slightly, and he raised his hands as if to say he was innocent.

“Hey, that’s the business, sweetheart.” Jeff began. “You know how it is. You step in the ring, there’s a risk. Don’t blame me for doing my job.”

Mina’s fists clenched at her sides. She was about to take a step towards Jeff, but Chester gently pulled her back.

“I’m not upset about being cut open, Jeff.” Chester spoke. “I’ve seen enough wrestling to know it can happen. But that match… it was a joke. The ref had it out for me, and you know it. I’m not some green rookie you all can walk all over.”

“Big words from a first-timer.” Jeff replied, raising an eyebrow. “Let me give you a little advice. If you’re going to survive in this world, watch your back. Because half the time, it’s your so-called friends or the officials who do you in.” He gave a genuine nod, before leaning in, speaking quieter. “Heal up, kid. Maybe next time, you’ll be ready for all of us.”

And with that, Jeff turned and walked out of the locker room, down the hall.

The room was silent again. The only sound came from the distant cheering of the crowd in the arena, muffled by the closed door. Mina looked at Chester, who was staring at the spot where Jeff had stood just moments ago.

"Ches?" Mina asked, concerned at his silence.

Chester turned his gaze towards her slowly and smiled, the playful light back in his eyes again. "You were going to charge at Jeff Jarrett?"

Mina crossed her arms over her chest, trying to hide a shy smile. "Maybe."

"That's my girl," Chester chuckled, pulling her closer. His body ached, but having Mina by his side made any pain bearable.

"You have no idea what you've gotten yourself into, Ches," she murmured, caution lacing her words. "This isn't the music scene. People here... they play dirty."

"I know," Chester replied quietly, leaning his forehead against hers. "But I didn't come into this thinking it would be easy."

Mina sighed softly but said nothing more. She knew arguing would get her nowhere. Chester was stubborn - one of the things she loved about him. He'd follow his heart even if it led him into a den of lions. And if Chester was walking into that den, Mina would be right there beside him, ready to fight off any lion that dared to bare its teeth.

Suddenly, they noticed a pair of eyes on them. It was Stone Cold Steve Austin, leaning against a wall, looking Chester up and down. The look wasn’t friendly in the slightest. It was more of a hostile glance than anything.

"Ah, the new blood," he drawled, pushing himself off the wall to stride over. His heavy boots thumped against the concrete floor, resonating throughout the room. "Heard about your debut match. Quite the spectacle you've made."

Mina straightened up as Stone Cold advanced, one hand protectively resting on Chester's shoulder. She didn't miss the implicit mockery in Austin's words.

"I did what I had to do,"Chester replied calmly, not letting Austin's intimidation affect him.

Stone Cold stopped a foot away from them, arms crossed over his chest. His eyes were like ice as they bore into Chester’s. "That so?" he drawled, his gaze fixed on Chester’s face. "Seems like you're playing a dangerous game, son."

Chester held Austin's gaze, not backing down. "Every game has its risks," he replied, his voice steady. "But I'm not here to play games."

Stone Cold's lips quirked into a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Well then," he said, his gaze flicking once more to Mina before returning to Chester. "Best you remember this ain't no concert, pretty boy. This is the wrestling world, and anyone with a functioning brain can see you don’t belong here. You stand in that ring, you’re in my house. Hell, you're in all of our houses."

Chester met the accusation head on. "Then I guess I'm your new neighbor," he said, his voice filled with a defiance that surprised even Mina. "And trust me, Austin. I can be a real nightmare if I choose to be."

Stone Cold’s eyes narrowed at the veiled threat, but he didn’t back down. Instead, he threw back his head and laughed, a loud, brash sound that echoed around the locker room.

"Oh boy," he said, wiping a tear from his eye. "You got balls; I'll give you that. But let me tell you somethin', Chester. You ain't the first hotshot to waltz in here like he owns the place, and you sure as hell won't be the last."

Without waiting for a response, Austin turned his back on them, heading towards the locker room door. He paused for a moment before leaving, throwing one last look over his shoulder.

"And if I were you," he added, his voice dropping into a dangerous drawl. "I'd keep a close eye on that pretty girl of yours. This ain't no place for someone like her."

The door slammed shut behind him, leaving Chester and Mina in a silence that amplified the lingering threat in his words. Mina's hand tightened its grip on Chester's shoulder, her knuckles growing white under the force. The room, once vibrant and filled with hustle, suddenly felt like an icy battleground.