Bonds Beyond the Bell: Nix and Troy vs Sequana vs Ivan

[Delalily]

Nix gasped for breath, her chest rising and falling heavily as she steadied herself against the ropes. Frustration flickered across her face. Damn it. She hated that she hadn’t been able to drive Sequana into the turnbuckle and break the hold the way she wanted. Her throat still burned, her lungs still struggling to pull in a full breath, and every part of her body felt a step behind where it should have been. She tried to shake it off quickly, forcing herself to stay upright as she gathered what composure she could.

Then, before she could fully reset, Troy’s hand slapped against her shoulder.

Nix’s head turned sharply, surprise flashing across her face as she looked back at him. He was already stepping forward, already making the decision for her. For a brief moment, she just stared, caught off guard by how quickly he had moved to take over. But the surprise softened almost as fast as it came, giving way to quiet gratitude. He had seen exactly how hard that choke had taken it out of her, and without needing to say a word, he was stepping in to carry the pressure for a while. Nix gave him a small, breathless nod and slipped through the ropes, more thankful than she wanted to admit.

Troy stepped into the ring, his expression shifting from casual bravado to focused determination. He rolled his shoulders, loosening up as he took his stance. “Take a rest,” he told Nix while cracking his knuckles. “I’ve got it from here.” His smirk returned briefly, a flash of confidence before he turned his full attention to Sequana.

His stance settled into something steady and deliberate, equal parts readiness and restraint. He didn’t rush in blindly, and he didn’t give Sequana an inch more respect than she had earned—just enough to acknowledge that she was dangerous. His gaze followed her closely, measuring every shift of weight and every twitch of movement, waiting for the right opening. Behind him, Nix remained at the apron catching her breath, and Troy stood firm in front of her, ready to shoulder her burden.