The door slammed shut behind you as the noise of the arena dulled to a low rumble. You dropped the first aid kit to the bench beside him, your eyes immediately scanning over his battered body. Cuts across his chest. A gash on his shoulder. Dried blood on his knuckles.

Beowulf was grinning, of course, grinning like a fool who just pulled off the show of his life.

“Did you see that final suplex?” he beamed, cradling The Hurting like it was a newborn.

“Crowd went wild. I think I heard someone yell ‘marry me!’ Not as loud as you yell, though, baby.” You rolled your eyes but couldn’t suppress the small smile tugging at your lips.

“You’re bleeding, Wolfie.”

“Eh, just paint for the stage,” Beowulf joked, flexing despite the wince it drew. “Battle scars, babe.”

You sat beside him, gently taking his arm and inspecting a deep cut near his shoulder. “Battle scars don’t need to get infected. Hold still.”

Beowulf watched you work in silence for a moment, the grin softening into something quieter, more sincere. The sting of antiseptic made him hiss through his teeth, but he didn’t pull away. He never did, not when it was you patching him up.

“You know,” he murmured, eyes on you now, “every time I’m out there… I don’t just fight for the crowd. Or the belt.”

You raised an eyebrow, dabbing gently at a nasty scrape on his cheek. “No?”

“Nope.”

His voice dropped a little, rough around the edges but steady. “I fight for you. For this. Coming back to someone who gives a damn whether I can still stand.”

You paused, your fingers resting lightly on his jaw. “Then stop fighting like you’re trying to die in there.”

Beowulf laughed, low and warm, despite the pain. “Not a chance. But I will try to make it back to you in one piece.”

You finished wrapping the last wound and leaned in, kissing the corner of his mouth, careful not to bump the bruises.

“Next time,” You said softly,

“You come back with fewer ‘battle scars,’ and more of that belt to show off. Deal?”

Beowulf grinned again, pulling you into a one-armed hug. “Deal. But only if you’re the one putting the champ back together again.”