A Champ's Choice - Chapter 2
Pleased with the response to this so far! Sorry It's been a few days! And before anyone asks, the mystery admirer is NOT an OC. So we're OK!
At this point Cody is still 'Dashing' so this makes it early January 2011. Only going to vaguely stick with the contemporary timeline, won't be specific with events and such.
Warning: Justin Gabriel-bashing!
It was the Smackdown taping for that week and poor Josh had been stuck on the road all night travelling to the blue show's arena. Oh well. He parked up his rental and made his way inside. No time for practice matches this time..never mind. He changed into his obligatory commentator's suit and made his way into make-up to have his face made flawless and his hair spot-on. He noted that Cody was already there, having copious amounts of fake tan applied.
Josh still couldn't beleive that a certifiably enormous nerd off-screen like Cody played such a vacuous poser on-screen. Still, the grooming tips were funny...being given by someone who spent his days off wearing Spiderman and Wolverine hoodies.
Josh and Cody were good friends.
"Heya!" Cody grinned as he saw the commentator sitting down.
"Hey Codes."
"I hear Teddy gave you a hard time in the ring yesterday?"
"Did you now?" smirked Josh, "Didn't want to admit to being beaten by me...I suppose he left out the part with Eve bodyslammed him!"
Cody giggled sharply.
"HA! Teddy got beat by a GIRL!" crowed the brunette, "Oh he is SO gonna beg me for mercy after this!"
"I thought it was the other way round?" smirked Josh, "You bend over and beg HIM for mercy?"
"JOSH! No fair!" pouted Cody, aiming a slap at the commentator, the poor girl tanning him sucked in her breath in frustration.
"Could you keep still for just a minute!" she huffed.
Cody huffed petulantly but allowed the girl to finishing bronzing his lean, sculpted figure. Josh always thought his friend was a grade one hottie, but he was strictly property of one Theodore Marvin DiBiase. And he was not going risk the wrath of the blonde, especially after they had become more friendly at Raw. Plus his friendship with Cody would of course be compromised.
"OK, you're free to go!" groaned the tanning girl.
"FANK YOU!" trilled Cody.
"You been on the helium or something?" asked Josh, as another girl began to apply wax to his short brown hair.
"No, just buzzed for my match tonight!" Cody said.
"Oh yeah, you're against MVP, God help you!" Josh said.
"Yeah, him and his STOOPID taped nose!" Cody said, pulling on his mirrored jacket, "Can't stand him! Has about as much charisma as a dead fish!"
"No need to be a bitch!" Josh laughed.
The hair styling girl tapped his shoulder, indicating he was good to go.
"COME!" Cody proclaimed, linking his arm in Josh's, "We got half an hour yet, let me get you a drink."
Josh just laughed to himself as he allowed the excitable young brunette to drag him to catering. Well, to the nearest vending machine where he bought them two Gatorades. Josh decided to risk being the talk of the Smackdown locker room and tell Cody about the mystery note.
"I think I've got a secret admirer," he said, as they sat down on a bench.
Cody almost choked on his drink.
"Really? Who?"
"Well they bought me some of my favourite Paul Smith Cologne and left this with it." He reached into his jacket pocket and handed Cody the note.
Cody's blue eyes sparkled as he read it, instantly knowing the writing... he had to admit he was surprised. Never thought he would go for Josh. Considering how irregularly the announcer appeared on Raw.
"If this isn't a prank," Cody said, "You got a major hottie after you."
"Really?"
"Totally!" replied Cody, "So tonight, Mister, no going out hunting for tricks!"
"Oh Coddles, haven't gotten laid in over a week!" Josh groaned.
"Joshy, I love you, you're my best friend," Cody said, "But do you have to be such a whore?"
"I don't trust many guys," Josh replied, "At least if it's anonymous sex, we both get what we want and nothing to worry about after."
"Aww baby, you'll meet Mr Right soon!" Cody put his arms around his smaller friend, "I only say this because I care...and because that fucking gossip slut Gabriel said mean things about you."
"What? What did he say?" Josh hated the South African high-flyer, who along with his partner-in-crime Heath Slater, were two backstabbing bitches on Raw who enjoyed mocking people.
"What was it...oh yeah...Josh Mathews' hole is the hottest spot in the WWE...always open'!" Cody fumed, in an exaggerated South African accent, "Fucking bitch. Lay slapped him."
Josh was hurt for a minute but then laughed...he was made of tougher stuff than that. It would take more than a mouthy slut like Justin Gabriel to upset him.
"Well he's losing his touch if he's getting his insults from Sex And The City," Josh chuckled, "He's probably jealous because I can get more men into bed than him, without having to wear skin-tight, sparkly trunks!"
"No, you just wear barely-there Aussiebums...hoe!" Cody smirked.
"Not Dashing enough?" Josh hit back.
"Hey, Rhodes?" came a techie's voice, "You're on in five! And Mathews! They need you at ringside NOW! Move it!"
"OK! Don't get your panties in a twist!" Cody groaned, getting to his feet.
The show had finished for the night, and Josh was heading back to his locker, ready to return to his hotel room. Cole had been extra-gobby tonight and was tiring to work with.
Unfortunately, he didn't bank on ending up with the entire Corre in the locker room. He rolled his eyes and opened his locker. An envelope lay there...obviously been posted through the door. How did they know it was his locker?
"That your clap clinic results?" sneered Justin Gabriel, padding over.
"Get a fucking hobby!" Josh sighed.
"Says the bitch who spends all his free time getting his ass fucked?" Justin went on, eyes flashing, "Do you need a souvenir from every town we play in?"
"Dude," put in Heath, in his droning Southern tones, "Leave it out, you don't want to catch anything from that slut!"
"Come on boys, stop bitching, hey?" Wade Barett drawled.
"Yeah, you're right Wade," smirked Justin, "The smell combination of stale lube and shit is making me feel nauseous."
Josh sniggered. Justin was obviously trying to hurt him but failed so dismally. The bearded high-flyer turned and stomped back to the other end of the room. Josh tore open the envelope. He had to suppress a squee. An adorable 'Forever Friends' card. No particular kind just a generic greetings one. But Josh was a sucker for anything cute like that. He opened it.
I missed you tonight, surprised nobody told you I was gonna be on Smackdown! Anyway baby, I really hope you realise this isn't a prank. I think you're gorgeous. And deserve to be treated like a prince. You should be thankful you've got such a great friend in Cody :)
Here's my cellphone number. Call me tonight. I'll be in my hotel room.
A friend xxx
A number had been scrawled at the bottom. Josh swallowed. Well, it couldn't do any harm to call it, he guessed. He wanted to show Cody this. He whipped out his cell and text Cody, asking him where he was.
He replied almost isntantly.
In my hotel room wiv lay...she came wiv sum wine LOL..cum join us :D:D
Cody, Layla and some wine...this should be fun! Layla was another good friend of Josh's, despite how mean she and Michelle were to him on-screen. He made his way to the hotel.
Wot room? he tapped to Cody.
257...strictly FLAWLESS n DASHING ppl may enter only! XD xxx
Oh God. If Cody and Layla were having some slumber party Josh was going to take a rain check. It was funny - Cody was generally a complete comic and video gaming nerd but when he hung out with Layla he turned into such a queen. As if he hadn't behaved like a queen already today!
He arrived back at the hotel and gratefulyl threw his heavy bag down. He removed his jacket and changed into some sweatpants and a black Miz 'Hello I'm Awesome!' tee. He grabbed the card he'd got and then padded across the corrdor until he found 257. He knocked.
A petite brunette girl answered. Layla, still in her purple ring gear.
"Hey! C'mon in, just opened the bottle!" she smiled, pulling him inside. Cody was sat on the bed, also in sweatpants, and, to Josh's amusement, an Apex Predator tee. Cody was such a Randy Orton fanboy. He was also wearing his large clear-lense hipster glasses that Josh called his "off duty glasses".
"Heya!" Cody leapt to his feet and hugged Josh. It had been a whole hour since they last saw each other, you know.
"Does Cena mind you wearing that?" chuckled Josh.
"He'll get over it, Teddy's Ok with it so it's FINE!" Cody grinned, "Got a you a glass already, look."
"Cheers," Josh took the glass of rose from the brunette and took a sip.
"Receive anything tonight?" Cody asked innocently.
Josh gave him a look. How would he have known...? Mind you, the person had mentioned Cody by name in the card. He handed the card to the grinning boy.
"Awww! Lay, check this out!"
"What is it?" asked the English girl.
"Josh has a secret admirer...recognise the handwriting?"
Layla took it and read. She whistled.
"You're so lucky, wish I was his type!" she said wistfully.
This was driving Josh nuts. Either these two were in on it, or he was being stupid at not working out who it was.
"You rung the cellphone number yet?" asked Cody, sipping his wine.
"Not yet!" Josh said, "Oh yeah, got another earful from Gabriel in the locker room."
"Those Nexus bitches still picking on you?" asked Layla, "Maybe next time I'll do the Layout on him on some concrete."
"Not that I don't appreciate you smacking him," Josh said, "But honestly, they don't bother me, it's fine."
Cody took his phone out and was already dialling the number written in the card.
It was a really busy week for the WWE roster, as the very next night was a house show, combining both brands. Cody had vanished into the bathroom last night when he phoned the mystery admirer, and hadn't elaborated when he'd returned, other than telling Josh that he needed to get his ass in gear pronto if he wanted to find out who was crushing on him!
Josh gathered that they liked to see him wrestle, so he decided to come to the house show early and get some more in-ring time in. Eve had a match against Layla tonight so she would be there. Josh wanted to work on the moonsault with her again...he already had a vague idea whom it might be...male and one of three possiblities. Or two. No way could it be Ted...for starters Cody would have killed him. And Josh too, probably. So it was either Miz or Riley. Josh almost found it hiloarious that someone like Mike Mizanin would even look at him...so it must be Alex. Josh thought Kevin Kiley Jr was hot - and had a great smile, but, it didn't seem right. It had to be one of those two. But who?
Josh quickly changed into a vest, elbow pads and sweatpants and made his way to the ring, stretching en route. Someone must be there, there was always a fight to see who got first dibs in the ring during the day. He heard a shriek or two so he concluded that Layla and Michelle were down there with Eve, practicing for tonight's show.
And sure enough, the two brunette ladies were slugging it in the ring, Layla aiming a graceful dropkick at Eve and taking her down. Josh didn't mind that he was probably going to be the only man in there right now. He made his way to where Michelle was sat.
"Oh hey Josh," she said, shuffling up so the announcer could sit, "What you doing here?"
"Was gonna see if the ring was free," he said.
"Aww, think they'll be another five minutes, if you can cope with training with some FLAWLESS divas!" Michelle grinned.
"It's fine, no fans to laugh at me!" Josh said.
Eve caught his eye and grinned, beckoning him in.
"Fancy a sesh?" she asked.
"Twist my arm then!" Josh smiled, stepping in.
"I'll referee!" Layla said, tying her sweaty locks back and pacing away, "Ring the bell!"
"Ding!" crowed Michelle from ring side.
"Remember Lita and Spike Dudley from years ago?" Josh asked under his breath as he and Eve went for a tie-up.
"Oh yeah, she owned his ass!" Eve smirked, "And I shall own yours too!"
She went to go for a suplex, but Josh decided to counter and snap-suplexed her instead. He went for a cover but she kicked out. It was a fairly even match up, and probably not one to be seen on WWE TV anytime soon but they had fun. Eve worked harder because her opponent was male, and she hissed to Josh to not hold back on her because she was a woman.
Josh countered a submission hold by Eve into a swinging neckbreaker, and just as the two bodies hit the mat, Layla caught his eye, a naughty smile on her face as she pointed towards the ramp. Josh looked over and saw two men making their way down. A flash of gold indicated it was Miz and Riley. Josh found himself blushing. And then cried out as Eve slipped under him for a roll-up. Luckily he kicked out at two.
"Intergender match, hey?" drawled Miz as he perched next to Michelle, Alex beside him,.
"We so need more of these," Michelle said, "They're doing great!"
"PG rating means parents don't like seeing men beat up girls," chipped in Alex.
"Shell, do you and Mark ever wrestle each other?" asked Mike.
Michelle chuckled warmly.
"Sometimes, just for fun, he taught me Hell's Gate last week!" she said, "Maybe I'll do it on Kelly...actually no, she'll split my eardrums open with her screaming!"
"Why does she do that?" Miz asked.
"I dunno," Michelle replied, "I like the girl, but it's a bit off-putting when wrestling her!"
Eve and Josh were still slugging it out.
"Do you know something else," Michelle said to Miz, "Why the hell are Creative pushing Cole who is absolutely awful in the ring...look at him! I didn't know he was so good!"
"He is," agreed Miz, "We trained together on Raw this week...he'll give you a good run for your money, he's no pushover!"
Josh rolled Eve for a cover..but she kicked out. He stomped her before climbing the turnbuckle.
"Remember, try not to use your hands," hissed the brunette out the corner of her mouth. Josh gave her a thumbs up before launching his slim body backwards. He got a bit more height but still held his arms out. He landed across Eve and covered her. 1, 2, 3.
Miz, Riley and Michelle whooped and clapped...it was still a novelty to a) see a non-wrestler actually wrestle and be good and b) see a moonsault - not many did it these days.
"Well done!" Eve said as she got to her feet, "I think you got it! Why don't you ask Creative to make you fight Cole! Fuck knows you must want to, sitting next to him mouthing off every week!"
"He sits in his pussy box most shows," Josh said, peeling off his vest..he was a little hot from the adrenaline. His admirer, who of course as he correctly deduced was sat there at ringside, couldn't stop staring...Josh had a perfect, slim, scuplted torso...and decent abs too. He had the physique of a cruiserweight superstar. And the Aussiebum waistband could be seen at the top of his sweatpants.
"Finished drooling?" asked the admirer's buddy.
"Shut up!" he hissed.
"Would be easier if you just approached him, y'know? You know he's gay, and as if he'd turn you down!"
"But I may not be his type, for all I know he likes men who look like Tyler Reks!"
"Yuck, think he has better taste!" Michelle put in. She of course knew who Josh's admirer was...it's what happened when you hung out with Layla and Cody all the time. Cody had practically pranced in this afternoon to tell his friends about the identity of the admirer. Josh was a lot more popular than he realised as well...talk of his in-ring ability was spreading, and several superstars were itching to include him in thier training sessions.
"Go get him, go on!" hissed the admirer's buddy as Josh climbed over the rope and began to make his way up the ramp with Eve.
Queen!Coddles returns, he lured me in, I'm sorry! And I suppose the Corre being in it has made it more specific to when it was. I was never a fan of their storyline so that's why I've made them villainous.
Notice the distinct lack of bitchy!Diva characters here...only because I don't like slash fics where all the Divas are written as horrible.
Yeah, I'm awful at this sort of thing, not sure if it was too early to make it more obvious who it is! All those who've reviewed have made good guesses anyway. Next chapter he may be revealed!
