Deanna Frost vs. Chris Lawler

[SnowQueenSCW]

Frost No More

”The Mind Wanders...”

Eyrie Tower
New York City, New York
October 18th, 2025
1:45pm

The sun filtered through the tall windows of the penthouse suite, casting golden rays on the immaculate hardwood floors, though it also highlighted the specks of dust in the air, despite the redhead’s best efforts.

Deanna refused to let her gaze linger on them. She had spent too many minutes swinging the handheld vacuum like a noisy wand trying to suck them up, only for more to appear or for them to ‘glide’ out of the way.

It shouldn’t be this hard to clean a damn house... the redhead thought grumpily. Even if it is a damn mini-castle.

For what it was worth, the Eyrie Tower penthouse suite was lovely. It was opulent, luxurious – perfect for a Snow Queen. And it wasn’t uncomfortable or anything... she knew she had no reason to complain...

And yet...

She had lost track of how many times she had checked the calendar. How many times she had done the math in her head, counting down the days until her house was rebuilt. Her wonderful, beautiful ‘Forever House’ in Manhattan. She missed the softness of it. Missed the small lake that linked the Black Arrow neighbourhood together. Missed her friends, few as they were.

But it was like the fire had returned to claim the last part of her that was ‘her’. Her home. Now? She had to wait. Wait and wander through the uncertain waters that was her life, her marriage, and her SCW career.

The latter of those three couldn’t be more unsettling. She had started in the Shot of Adrenaline tournament and attacked it with gusto. Then, she was abruptly plucked out of the tournament and tossed into the Trios Tournament, her one match there turning into utter bedlam and chaos before it ended. Was she upset over the loss? That her team had devolved into little more than squabbling? No. She had expected it with Oskar and Creek as partners – the important thing was that Amelia hadn’t been hurt. Besides, if she were honest with herself, she had not been as excited about the Trios Tournament as she had been with the SoA tournament. There was just something about it, all of it, really, that made her feel like this was her path. Like it was meant to be this way for her... and she could not deny the relief she felt when Amelia’s team had moved on, meaning she could be return to it.

Still, it didn’t make the waters any less choppy for the redhead. She didn’t want to overthink anything today, least of all SCW. She was still dealing with the recoil from Oskar’s thoughts on her – What fucking good are you? – the voice mocked in her mind – the damned Heart of Vial – and she still felt uncertain about how far she could go.

It didn’t help matters that she was set to face Chris Lawler of all people! It wasn’t that she had anything against him. Hell, she wasn’t even upset with him suckerpunching Selena all those weeks ago. It had been dealt with – none of her business, she firmly believed. He was a good man, a good wrestler, troubled just like she was and looking to move up in the world of SCW. That wasn’t what bothered her.

It’s too soon...

Quietly, the redhead sighed at that singular truth. She would have been happy to face anyone else in her return back to the tournament. But Lawler? His fight with Selena was still fresh – still recent – and that was the issue. CHBK had alluded to Deanna and Selena last Breakdown and Deanna had been interrogated again and again about Selena potentially ‘teaming with her’ in the Snow Queen’s new feud with the Glimmer Sisters – if feud was the right word. With this, all that was going happen would be everyone comparing her match with Lawler with the one Lawler had at Apocalypse with Selena.

Even if you manage to win... came the voice. It will be “Was it as good as when Selena did it? Did it look easier? Harder?” And if you fail... if you lose... The voice seemed to laugh at the idea, the implication clear. Hell, she was expecting Chris to make some inevitable comparison, either using the redhead for vengeance on Selena or making some big show that he wouldn’t just to ‘look good’, Deanna wasn’t sure which she would have to deal with, but the point was... This was supposed to be her being on her own... yet fate seemed to want to keep putting her in positions that forced the comparison.

She knew she wasn’t as good as Selena and, truly, that was okay! She didn’t need to ‘be’ anything. She just wanted to have fun in SCW again. She wanted the thrill of competition again. She wanted her strength again. She wanted to be... to be... to be seen again. Seen as her own woman and not just a connection to the Snow Queen.

Quickly, Deanna shook her head to dispel the thoughts, feeling the familiar headache of overthinking threatening to overtake her again. This was why she had chosen to keep herself busy while Selena had disappeared to go train in the gym located at the 15th floor of the tower. She almost had to laugh at the last words the two of them had shared before the platinum-blonde had departed.

“You know we get cleaning services here, right?”
“So I’ll be making their job a little easier.”
“I just don’t see the point.”
“Because it beats the hell out of thinking right now.”

Deanna still believed that, clearly, as she knelt down in front of the coffee table, taking the dust rag in one hand and the bottle of cleaner in the other. She had spotted the stain on the table midway through her mental tirade and dammit if she wasn’t going to win this fight with it! With a spray and a spritz, she scrubbed at the stubborn mark, the scent of lemon slowly wafting through the air, a refreshing, peaceful contrast to her own thoughts to be sure.

At first, the mark refused to go away, a slight discoloration apparent on the wood of the table. Still, she kept scrubbing with the rag, her hand gripping the cloth far tighter than necessary. What even was this mark even from? She couldn’t be sure. It was a dark color, like dried blood, but when the hell would Selena had bled on this table? And why the hell would she have stopped for a drink while she had been bleeding. Yes, it was Halloween, but the very idea was just stupid!

Though, as the redhead continued to spritz the dusty surface of the coffee table, the reference to Halloween did bring with it a pang of sadness and pain to her heart, causing her scrubbing to slow slightly as her attention was drawn to the large room she occupied. The room was lavish with many fine things decorating it. A large television, an elegant clock, the brickwork in some parts, photos of Selena and her and their family throughout...

But, like the entire suite, it lacked something. A personal touch – in this case... no Halloween decorations.

Yes, the thought of the holiday-season, had just furthered Deanna’s feeling of homesickness. It was truly the first Halloween where there was, simply, no decorations put up to celebrate.

It felt so... so... unlike them.

Since she had moved into her ‘Forever Home’, Deanna had made it her mission to celebrate every holiday in grand fashion. The epic decorations, neighbourhood competitions, she had been part of it all (minus the time she had been forced to stay in Germany). Still, even last year with the divorce being finalized, both Frost women had refused to let that affect the home of their children. They had still gone all out for the holidays. But this year...

She saw how stale everything looked – how normal – and her heart ached a little. She wanted Jack O’Lanterns! She wanted the gargoyle statues she had poached from Leslie! She wanted eerie candles and spooky hangers! But with only ten or so days till Halloween and the idea that few people would be travelling an elevator this high up for trick or treating (even if they somehow HAD an access card-key), the chance of her house suddenly being turned into a spooky rendition of a Halloween-town seemed less and less likely.

One more thing I’ll have to get used to... she sighed, not wanting to think about what that meant for Christmas and what her children would think.

However, her thoughts turning to them, specifically to Elsianna, brought another pang to her heart. Her eldest was so like Selena and neither could see it. Selena was trying to play distant to Elsianna and get her to forgive the Snow Queen on her own time while Elsianna was too stubborn to simply forgive and wanted her mother to do the work first, which Selena wouldn’t do because she wasn’t fully certain she had done anything wrong in the first place! It was all a vicious cycle that the redhead couldn’t explain to either them. Why couldn’t they see that all they had to do was sit down and talk, listen, and then forgive?

Was Elsianna wrong for lying and hiding so much from the family? Yes.
Was Selena wrong for lashing out at Elsa in the first place? Yes.
Was Deanna wrong for not stepping up more? She cringed at that one but admitted. Yes.

But if those two didn’t talk soon and work this out, there would be nothing left of their relationship to salvage. Elsa had already been driven to try smoking without Selena there to help Deanna guide her. Who knew what would happen if this friction continued or, worse, escalated!

That’s why you need to get stronger! To win this! the voice whispered like a snake. So that when you speak... they will listen.

It was a warped perception of what the redhead wanted. “Stronger” was a subject term. Selena was one of the most decorated superstars in SCW history; strong enough to knock out someone as tough as Xander and as intelligent as Ravyn Taylor. Yet, Deanna knew Selena would complain about her lack of power. Her lack of strength in SCW, as she was shot down time and time again by CHBK. It wasn’t ‘stronger’ Deanna wanted to be necessarily – physically stronger? Emotionally stronger? Yes, of course. But where the Heart wanted Deanna to have more ‘strength’ as in power, Deanna wanted to change that to ‘confidence’.

She desired more than anything to have more confidence in herself. To stand strong, yes, but CONFIDENT in all she did. That was the difference. She had been that way before the incident. When everyone had told her to run away from those like The Brand or, worse, The Enigma/Veil, she had refused. She had stood up for her friends and loved ones, walked into abandoned buildings, risked so much without hesitation because she was confident – because she believed she was strong enough to survive and overcome!

Now? She just felt hollow. Her heart raced with the excitement of wrestling in the SoA tournament, even winning it, yet cringed at the thought of being compared to Selena afterwards. She desired so badly to win it all, yet found herself at a loss of how to do that when she didn’t know how to do anything in her private life. How to fight for something as simple as Halloween decorations or for her daughter and ex-wife/lover to talk!

The sound of heavy footsteps broke her reverie, Deanna hearing them before hearing the entrance/exit door swing open. The steps continued, drawling closer to where she scrubbed – how long had she been scrubbing that area anyway? Quickly, the redhead sprung to her feet, immediately regretting it as her knees protested. Fortunately, the ache faded as quickly as it had come, just in time as Selena walked in. With Deanna’s back to the large window, she was able to easily see the sweat-soaked black t-shirt Selena wore, along with the black shorts. The platinum-blonde’s hair was tied in a tight ponytail, which only further showed the gleam of sweat.  

“Hey,” Selena greeted, a satisfied smile creeping across her lips, no doubt from the workout. “Still cleaning?”

“It helps,” Deanna replied half-heartedly, giving a shrug of her shoulders as she moved around the room, mindlessly spraying and wiping any random surface. “You know how it is. If I’m not doing something, I’m thinking… and that’s dangerous.”

Selena chuckled softly, dropping her gym bag onto the floor with a thud. “You should have gone to the gym with me.” she offered. “You’re the one competing this week...”

“Yeah, but nobody’s coming after me with championships to the face.” Deanna shot back. “Need to be quicker on your feet, ‘World Ruler’.” she couldn’t help the chuckle at that.

“What?” Selena asked with tilt of her head, tired but not annoyed. “What’s wrong with ‘World Ruler’.”

“It sounds like something you buy at Staples or Target!” Deanna laughed. “Next to the ‘Country-Staplers’ and the ‘Nation-Binders’! On sale for Halloween!” she added teasingly.

“As opposed to yours?” Selena raised an eyebrow. “What was it again?”

Deanna’s laughter died instantly, as did her smile. “I don’t have one anymore.” she answered honestly. “I barely know who I am or what to do out there.”

She saw the flicker of worry flash across Selena’s face. Selena had gone a step too far and the both knew it, something the Snow Queen was doing and more of. But with SCW shifting more and more at such a rapid pace, Deanna wasn’t so sure who was who and where people stood. With a world champion that was loved but nailing superstars with the title, to tag-team champions ambushing people. To Adrenaline champions making up matches they couldn’t lose? What was ‘good’ and what was ‘bad’? It wasn’t always so clear some days – at least from an observational standpoint, and it just further confused the redhead.

Dropping her rag and spray-bottle onto the coffee table, Deanna sat on the couch and crossed her arms over her knees. The air was thick with tension and neither spoke for what felt like several minutes.

Slowly, Selena stepped closer, her gaze settling on Deanna. “Why don’t you join me for a workout?” she hesitantly offered again. “I could help up your training, get you back in top form. I mean – I’ve looked at the tournament and you’re more qualified than most, if not, all of them. I’d say your biggest threat is Kimberly but you already beat her and-”

“Selena, stop it.” Deanna ordered quietly, effectively silencing the platinum-blonde. “Any one of them could beat me. Just because you beat them doesn’t mean I can.”

“No, but, me beating them has nothing to do with it.” Selena stated. “I’m saying it because I think you’re genuinely good enough to beat them.”

“Nice, but you’re a little bias.” Deanna half-laughed. “Can’t really be objective when I’m sleeping with you.”

“Sure I can. Watch me.” Selena took a deep breath to steady herself. “From our experience... you have...” she gave a dramatic pause, causing Deanna to roll her eyes. “Stamina. So much stamina!”

“Oh, nice.” Deanna laughed. “That’ll sound swell in a promo. ‘Hey, Chris! Remember how you lost to my wife? Yeah, well I can outlast her in bed! So what do you think I’m going to do to you when we’re in the ring? That’s right! OUTLAST YOU IN BED! Stellar, Selena.” Deanna waved her hand exaggeratedly throughout the whole ‘performance’ before settling it back down on her knee as she sat on the couch. “I can’t have you involved with this.” she slowly spoke. “Everyone is already drawing so many parallels between you and me. You winning this tournament, what it did for your career, and now you beating Chris. If I do anything more with you, it’s never going to end. To the point where, even if I win the tournament, it won’t mean anything for me. So, just... just...” she sighed, lifting her head to gaze at her wife’s sapphire eyes. “Just let things be... like we promised.”

It was certainly not what the Snow Queen wanted to hear, but she gave a sigh before nodding her head. “Fine.” she acquiesced before her head suddenly stopped, eyes focused on something regarding Deanna.

“What?” the redhead asked. “What is it?”
“I just realized something...” Selena spoke distantly, sapphire eyes gazing down to her own pale hand before drawing back up to Deanna. “I went to this speakeasy... and someone said...” she stopped, taking a deep breath before suddenly gazing back at Deanna, eyes refocused.

“You still wear your wedding ring,” she stated, her voice even but loaded.

Okay, not expecting that. Deanna admitted silently. Instinctively looked down, she saw the jewelled band glinting softly in the light. “Uh...yeah...” she shrugged, “I mean, we are trying, aren’t we?”

“No...” Selena shook her head. “I just realized. This whole time... you’ve always worn it. Like I can’t recall a time where you weren’t wearing it...”

The question wasn’t asked but Deanna heard it as loud as if the Heart had shouted it in her skull. “I… I don’t know why I haven’t taken it off.” she confessed, her heart suddenly plummeting. “Did... did you want me to?”

Again, Selena took a step back, folding her arms across her chest. “Deanna,” she began, hesitation draping over the words, “we’re divorced. You know that, right?”

“Yes. I know. But I didn’t... I didn’t want to...” she sighed before shaking her head. “What does it matter? You still wear yours. You call me your wife on TV. I call you my wife. I still love you – you still love me. We’re trying again so what does it matter?” she said, the truth spilling out unbidden, startled by her own boldness.

Selena's brow furrowed slightly, the admission striking a chord within her that released itself with a sigh. “I do love you,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “But we can’t go back to—”

“Can we not try?” Deanna challenged, her breath hitching as she searched Selena’s eyes, pleading for understanding. “We’ve been through so much, and I can’t help but think that maybe there’s a way back-”

“We had a deal, Deanna.” Selena countered firmly, a frown creasing her brow. “One year.”

“I know! I know! But what if I can?” Deanna replied, rising from the floor to stand toe-to-toe with Selena. The familiar spark ignited in her chest, the kind that wrestled between longing and desperation, hope and fear. “What if I win the tournament? And not only am I right about that, I am right about you and SCW and that things can get fixed? What then? What if, after a year, you decide to stay? What will you do then?”

Sapphire eyes went wide and it was all Deanna needed to see to know that such an outcome was something Selena had not truly considered. “You’ve never thought about it have you?”

“Not...” Selena sighed. “Not so long-term, no.” she added in admittance.
“Maybe you should.” Deanna countered, her voice now firm. “If you want me to believe that I can get through this tournament because I’m good enough – then you need to believe you can survive this year because you are ‘good’ enough.”

She stopped, eyes suddenly uncertain. “You know I meant a different kind of ‘good’ right?”
“Yes.”
“Because you meant ‘good’ as in talent and ability and I meant ‘good’ as in morals and goodness and-”
“Deanna!” Selena held up a hand to stop her. “I got it.”

“Okay.” Deanna nodded, exhaling a bit. “So all I need to do to aid the cause is win a tournament... easy... cept I never have before.”
“Oh, once you win one, it’s like riding a bicycle.” Selena puffed. “You never forget.”
“Not helpful.” Deanna sighed.

“Okay.” came the slow voice of the Snow Queen, a pale hand – wearing a wedding ring of her own – gently grasping Deanna’s. “I’ll tell you what.” she smiled knowingly. “I’ll look ahead right now and make you a deal.” Sapphire eyes met Deanna’s emerald ones. “You do all you say and change my mind? Don’t care how you do it. But you change my mind at the end of the season... and we’ll fix this whole wedding rings thing.”

“Fix it?” Deanna asked in confusion. “How? You want to downgrade to promise rings or something?
“No...” Selena shook her head. “I mean if the world knows we’re married – might as well fix that and make ourselves honest about it.”

It took a second but Deanna’s eyes suddenly went wide. “Are you... are you saying...”

“Who knows?” Selena shrugged honestly. “I’m just saying ‘what-if’. That’s all I’m saying. Something to...” slowly, she leaned down tracing her lips over Deanna’s with a whisper of a kiss. “Maybe something to look forward to...”

She was gone a second later, walking up the stairs towards the showers. For Deanna, she could only just stand there, too stunned to speak or even think – all she could smell was lemon cleaner.

And all she could hear was her heart hammering away inside her chest.