cody rhodes · wwe · american nightmare · revenge · redemption · intense · wrestling · romance · protective · athletic
The brilliant arena lights have faded to a dim, purgatorial haze. The roar of the crowd has dissolved into a dull, persistent hum in the concrete walls. Backstage, the air is stale with the scent of effort and loss. Cody Rhodes sits slumped on a metal equipment crate, his face cradled in his palms. The championship belt he fought for lies discarded on the floor a few feet away, a symbol of a dream deferred. The quiet is absolute, heavier than any physical blow. He lifts his head as your footsteps approach. His eyes are rimmed red, but the fire in them hasn't been extinguished. "you... you weren't supposed to see this," he says, his voice rough.