The next day...

You’re relaxing on the bed in your quarters, taking a well-deserved break after your match, when you hear a knock at your door. You open it and, to your astonishment, Roxie is standing there in front of you. She’s no longer wearing her provocative match outfit, instead dressed in a simple T-shirt and jeans, and she looks far quieter and less animated than she did in the ring with you.

She seems to struggle to think of what to say, before she finally takes a deep breath. “I wanted to make sure you were all right.”

{if Used safeword = true}“That’d be a first,” you say, glaring at her.

She winces. “I’m sorry. I really get carried away with the whole ‘domination’ thing sometimes. That’s why I started using a safeword. The fans don’t like it when a match ends early, but...I’d rather that than someone accidentally getting hurt or having something done to them that they weren’t okay with.”

{if Humiliation > 20}{if Exhaustion < 20}“You could have toned down the humiliation,” you tell her. “Ending up on the bottom happens sometimes in this league, but...you pretty much just went and destroyed my pride in front of all those people. And yeah, I know it’s what they came to see, and I know it gets you horny, but I’m in that ring too.”

Roxie nods, staring at the floor with a look of contrition. “Again, I’m really sorry. They told me I was supposed to make it a squash match. I didn’t really think about what that would be like for you.”{endif}

{if Exhaustion > 20}“You went way too far,” you tell her. “My whole body hurts, and I can’t go outside without wanting to hide and wondering who was watching. I kept hoping you’d slow down, that I wouldn’t have to use the safeword, but you just kept getting more and more intense until I had **** but to bow out. It was okay at first, I have a really high tolerance for this kind of stuff, but you crossed a line. I didn’t sign up for this, remember? My name got picked out of a hat and suddenly I’m thrown into the ring with a woman who just doesn’t know when enough is enough.”

Roxie seems to almost withdraw into herself. The playfulness and mischief that were so prominent when you fought are entirely gone. You didn’t think it was possible, but looking at her in this state, you could swear she seems...small.

“I’m sorry,” she says, in a subdued voice. “I didn’t mean for this to happen. I—I got so caught up in what I was doing—it happens to me too often, I need to remember to think about what’s happening...”{endif}{endif}

{if Humiliation < 20}{if Exhaustion < 20}“It wasn’t really anything you did,” you explain. “It was just that I could see that you were about to get going—I wasn’t sure whether you were going to try to beat me up or **** me, but I just didn’t want to keep going to find out what it was you had planned. I’ve seen you in action. You can get pretty nasty sometimes.”

Roxie nods, staring at the floor with a look of contrition. “Again, I’m really sorry. They told me I was supposed to make it a squash match. I didn’t really think about what that would be like for you.”{endif}

{if Exhaustion > 20}“You kind of kicked the shit out of me out there,” you tell her. “I could have gotten pretty seriously hurt. I can roll with a punch or two, but you’re stronger than almost anyone I’ve ever met. Not everyone can take what you can dish out.”

Roxie nods, staring at the floor with a look of contrition. “Again, I’m really sorry. They told me I was supposed to make it a squash match. I didn’t really think about what that would be like for you.”{endif}{endif}

Seeing her remorse and guilt, the anger slowly drains out of you, and you breathe a weary sigh. “I shouldn’t be so hard on you. This is your job, and you’re damn good at it. And to be honest, I probably should have used the safeword before things got as bad as they did, so I’ve gotta own some of the blame for that too—maybe most of it. Just remember how it feels to be a jobber every now and again, all right?”

She takes a deep breath. “I’ll try. It’s been a long time, but I wasn’t always the Champion.”

“Thanks,” you reply. “You can come talk to me if you ever want to find out what things are like on the lower decks.”

Roxie nods, and is about to get up to leave when a thought strikes her. “You know, I may have a way to make sure nothing like this ever happens again.”

“Yeah?” You’re curious in spite of yourself, leaning forward in your chair.

“I could train you,” she suggests. “I’ll be a lot gentler on you than before, and you’ll have plenty of tricks under your belt the next time you come up against a tough opponent, so that you can be the one to come out on top. And who knows? Maybe in time we’ll be able to have a match on even terms.”

You think about the skill she’s displayed in the ring and how it might feel to have that on your side. “I’d quite like that.”

“Great,” she says, and smiles for the first time since she came in, equal parts excitement and relief. “You can start whenever you’re ready. I’m not gonna pressure you.”

“I’ll let you know,” you promise. “And Roxie?”

“Yeah?”

You look her right in the eye. “Thanks. For the safeword, for the check-in...thanks for trying to make sure everything’s okay.”

“Anytime,” she says as she stands up to leave. “See you soon?”

“Count on it.”{endif}

{if Used safeword = false}{if Match thrown = false} “Oh, don’t worry, I’ll live,” you say. “What made you so concerned about me all of a sudden?”

“Well,” she continues sheepishly, “you’ve probably noticed by now that I tend to get really into this whole ‘domination’ thing...”

Your voice goes completely deadpan as you say, “I’d never have guessed.”

She looks confused for a moment, like she’s not sure whether to laugh or wince, but she keeps going. “And it occurred to me that I might have gone too far when we were in the ring. I know I gave you a safeword, but you might not have remembered it, or felt pressured into not using it...”

You shake your head emphatically and smile warmly. “No way. It was totally fine with me. In fact, it was pretty fucking hot.”

She breathes a long sigh of relief. “Great. I’m glad. I was really worried there for a while.”

“That’s very sweet of you,” you say. “Are you sure you’re the same woman I just faced in my match?”

“Pretty sure,” she laughs.

{if La Diabla Roja intervened = true}

“So,” you say slyly, “that succubus woman, Diabla Roja...”

“Rrrroja,” Roxie corrects you, trilling the r.

“Yeah, her. Are you and she, like...an item?”

Astonishingly, Roxie actually blushes. “What? Why would you think that? She’s not my...I’m not...we aren’t...”

She lapses into flustered silence.

“That, right there,” you say. “That’s what makes me think that. Along with many other things.”

“Well, we aren’t,” Roxie informs you, and almost manages to make it sound convincing.

“Uh-huh,” you say skeptically. “Well, maybe you should be.”

Her brow furrows. “I’m sorry, what?”

“You heard me. You two would be really cute together! And you already seem to be pretty close friends. I think you should give it a shot.”

“Are you just saying this because you want to watch some girl-on-girl?” she asks half-jokingly, pointing an accusatory finger at you.

“No!” you say instantly.

She just stares at you.

“Okay, a little,” you concede. “But really, I do think you’d be good for each other.”

“I’ll keep it in mind,” she laughs—but she actually looks a little contemplative for a moment before she perks back up again. {endif}{if Lady Grace intervened = true}“So...I hate to dampen the mood,” you say, “but what exactly is the deal with Lady Grace?”

Roxie’s face darkens. “She’s a vindictive bitch who doesn’t understand that no means no, what more is there to say?”

You raise an eyebrow and look at her expectantly.

“Fine,” she grouses. “Grace and I used to be together. She’s always been the same kind of person she was in the ring with us, but she used to be better at hiding it.”

“Okay,” you say. “I won’t pry anymore.”

“No, it’s all right,” Roxie tells you. “I did eventually break up with her, but it took me a long time to work up the nerve, if you can believe that. Turns out I’m better at realizing when someone is trying to hurt me physically than emotionally.”

You stare at her for a second, then walk over to her and wrap her up in a completely platonic, comforting hug.

“Oh, uh...” She doesn’t really seem sure what to say or do, and when you let her go she shifts awkwardly in place—but she smiles warmly, an innocent expression that couldn’t be more different from anything she wore in the ring.

“You deserve better,” you tell her.

“I...” She takes a second to compose herself. “Thank you.”

“Of course,” you say simply.

Roxie thinks for a moment. {endif}{if Respect >= 8}“Hey, Jack. I have a proposal for you.”

You raise an eyebrow{if Has heard the Champion’s offer = true}. “Is this going to be anything like the last one?”

“No!” she says defensively. “Okay, maybe a little. But not actually that much.”

Your brow furrows in confusion.{else}, but say nothing. She takes that as a cue to continue.{endif}

“I noticed out there that you were showing a lot of spirit, even when you were losing,” she explains. “Most people I’m up against just knuckle under and do as they’re told, even if it’s humiliating, but you pushed back. {if Has heard the Champion’s offer = true}And what you said about wanting to win on your own merits...we don’t get a lot of people like that in this league anymore.”{endif}

“Where are you going with this?” you wonder.

“If you want to climb the ECL’s ranks, {if Has heard the Champion’s offer = true}even if you do it the right way, without cheating, {endif} you’re going to need a trainer, right? Someone who can show you the ins and outs of erotic combat and make you into a fighter who can compete with the best of them. What if I was that trainer?”

It’s a fascinating idea. It’s far from unheard of for an ECL fighter to offer to train a younger rookie. She’s the best fighter in the league by a long shot, and having her teach you what she knows could be your way to the top.

“I’d like that very much,” you say.

“Fantastic!” She grins widely, clearly enthusiastic about the prospect. “I’ve got a lot of tricks up my sleeve to show you. You’ll be kicking ass in weeks, just wait. And who knows? Maybe I’ll teach you enough that we can have a rematch that isn’t so...”

“One-sided?” you fill in.

“I was going to put it a little more diplomatically.”

“Sure you were,” you say, chuckling. “When do I start?”

She crosses the room in two quick strides, and suddenly she’s standing right in front of you. Her arms wrap around your body and hold you tightly, not crushing, but firm. Your body presses against hers, and a bolt of excitement shoots down your spine right into your groin.

“How about right now?” she whispers as her hands move under your shirt.

“I’m ready for my first lesson, Miss Champion,” you murmur back as she pushes you onto the bed.{endif}

{if Respect < 8}“Good to know you really do have a soft side,” you tease.

Roxie raises a finger warningly. “A word of advice: if you’re thinking of trying to exploit it next time we go toe-to-toe, don’t bother. I only let it out when I’m off-duty.”

“Well, it’s probably going to be a long time before our next match,” you point out. “I have plenty of time to think of other ways of beating you. And I’m definitely going to try.”

“Oh, I hope you do,” she says with that mischievous smile you’ve come to know so well. “You can challenge me anytime you want—if you think you’re ready.”

You stand up so that you’re face-to-face with her—or rather, almost face-to-face. The effect is ruined a little bit by the six or so inches she has on you, but it’s still a fair effort at drama. “Maybe not today, or tomorrow...but I will take you up on that one day. There will be a rematch. Count on that.”

“I’m looking forward to it,” she replies, and the bubbly cheerfulness gives way to sincerity as she turns to leave. “Good luck.”

You wave goodbye as she walks out. “You too.”

{endif}{endif}

{if Match thrown = true} “I’m better than okay; I feel fantastic,” you tell her.

“Don’t get too cocky,” she warns, playfully wagging a finger at you. “I thought I might have gone a little too far in the ring yesterday, but it seems like you’re doing all right.”

“Nah, you were fine,” you assure her. “Even if you had gotten a little too frisky, you more than made up for it. Now I’ve just gotta figure out what I plan to do next.”

“I can recommend some trainers to you if you want to get ready for the feud,” she suggests. “Don’t worry if it seems like you’re not progressing fast enough—they’re not going to pit us against each other again right away. You’ll probably have to have some other matches to build your profile first.”

“Hopefully easier ones.”

“Most of them are,” she says with more than a little pride. “And I think you’ll be ready for them when they come along. Besides, you’ve got some motivation for learning how to beat me, too.”

“What’s that?” you ask curiously.

She hooks a finger around one side of her jeans and pulls them down just a fraction, revealing the slightest flash of bright red panties. Dropping her voice into the seductive contralto of the Champion, she says, “You know what’s waiting for you if you succeed.”

She blows you a kiss, winks and struts off.

You’ve got a lot of work ahead of you, but it looks like it’s going to be worth it.{endif}{endif}