11. Championship

Alex leaps into the air as he and Mike enter the empty locker room. "That was so fucking awesome!"

Mike's grinning from ear to ear and his cheeks are beginning to hurt from smiling so hard, but he easily ignores the discomfort. Can't believe his lifelong dream of becoming WWE Champion just came true and if that wasn't enough, he was able to share the experience with his best friend by his side. Mike raises the title to his mouth and kisses it, can't believe he's holding this object - this title - he's wanted his whole life and not only is he holding it, he now owns it.

Alex approaches Mike and grabs his face. "You're so fucking awesome!" He shakes Mike enthusiastically and Mike starts to laugh.

Finally the shock seems to be wearing off and the new champ starts to feel the full extent of his achievement. He doesn't even have to blink, tears of pure joy stream down his cheeks, one after the other, and Alex just keeps wiping them away with his thumbs, then his palms and then his knuckles until his hands are soaked in Mike's tears; can't stop repeating how proud he is of his friend.

"You earned this, you deserve this. There's no one on the planet I would wish this kind of happiness for except for you. You know that?"

Mike nods, laughing exuberantly.

Consumed by this surreal moment, Alex leans in and kisses Mike on the lips. Despite his feelings, the kiss isn't meant to be romantic, it's meant only to express his own joy at seeing his friend achieve such success. But at the same time, it's not as if he goes around kissing his friends on the mouth every time they win something.

As he pulls away, still holding his friend's face in his hands, Alex suddenly realizes there's no objection on Mike's part. He waits a few seconds, giving Mike time to back away if he should choose, but to Alex's surprise, Mike remains still, sparkling eyes filled with what looks like hope. And that look he thought he was only imagining the night before, seems more real than any trick his mind could ever play on him. Taking what is arguably the biggest risk of his entire life, Alex kisses Mike again, this time holding the connection in a way that can no longer be interpreted as celebratory or in any way platonic.

For the first time in Mike's whole life, he's surrounded by everything he wants, everything he needs. A feeling he's only ever felt after waking up from a perfect dream washes over him and it's as if he's just snuck a peek into heaven. The pearly gates opening before him, welcoming him with-

Suddenly, a mixture of loud voices from the hallway comes charging towards the lip-locked men, giving them just enough warning to separate before a slew of superstars and divas pile in to congratulate the new champ - Maryse leading the rambunctious pack. Mike and Alex stare at each other as the room starts to fill up with cheers and echoes of those cheers.

Alex smiles as he looks to his feet. He slowly backs away, looks up to Mike with a subtle glance and then he's gone without a word. Mike's sights are fixated on the spot where Alex had been standing. All this commotion around him and he barely notices any of it.

Maryse seems to be louder than all the rest, boasting about her boyfriend's big win as if it was her own. The diva starts announcing which club they're going to first and bragging about what she'll be wearing.

All the while, Mike can only think about Alex.

xxxx

Mike tries to enjoy his so-called celebration. After all, there's not much in this world he loves more than people making a fuss over him, but it all seems so insignificant without Alex. He tries dancing to the obnoxious techno music blasting throughout the hazy club, but instead of cheering him up, it only makes him feel dizzy. The taste of the alcohol is sour, its effects not even worth the effort of bringing the shot glass to his mouth. The fact that he hasn't had to pay for a single drink doesn't make it worth it either. He uncharacteristically hides himself away in the VIP section, seeking comfort in a big curvy booth.

Solemnly, Mike watches as superstars and divas alike get plastered and make fools out of themselves. Some pairing off with each other, others wandering off to secluded corners with mindless groupies. Even before Mike was with Maryse, he still never sunk to the level of some of his co-workers. Doesn't understand how they can be so reckless and cavalier. And maybe he's just getting older or maybe it's just his current state of melancholy speaking, but this isn't the way he imagined celebrating the biggest win of his career, of his life. Everyone - those who can't stand him and even those who claim to care for him - only using it as an excuse to get wasted, not even caring what a monumentally big deal this is, so he gets up and searches for his girlfriend in the crowd.

When he finally spots her, he places his hand on the small of her back. "Hey, sweetie, do you think we could-" But he's cut off when Maryse darts her attention to John Morrison as he's passing by. Mike scowls, almost feels like he should be jealous, but he's not. Who wears sunglasses in a darkened club anyway? Really, he's only pissed that Maryse won't listen to him.

He leans in close to her ear and tries again. He shouts so the woman can hear him over the music and she turns her head into him. "I think I'm gonna-" But just as the first time, Maryse has proven she has neither the patience for, nor the interest in what Mike's trying to say, her focus being diverted once again. "Yeah…I'll be going now," Mike murmurs, rolling his eyes, annoyed and frustrated as he watches Maryse scurry towards Kelly.

xxxx

Mike showers, ridding himself of the remnants of what should have been a fantastic night. He sits on the edge of the bed and looks over to his title displayed on the table. It still has Randy Orton's name on it, but he doesn't care, admires it just the same. Looking at the championship brings the earlier events of the night to the forefront of his thoughts. He thinks about the rush he felt when he pinned Orton, the way he was consumed by emotion when he fell to his knees, the way he jumped out of the ring and instinctively ran into Alex's arms, the way they held each other as they made their way up the ramp, the way Alex's lips felt when he-

A gentle knock at the door peels him away from the unfolding memory, but when he opens it to find Alex there, it all comes flooding back. Too many emotions for one night, but Alex is here now so everything is right even if nothing is right.

"Hi," Mike says, greeting his friend breathlessly. Clears the threshold, silently inviting him in.

Avoiding eye contact, Alex enters the room and places the Money in the Bank briefcase on the table next to Mike's newly won title. "I wanted to make sure I brought this to you," he says, his voice mellow and controlled. "But I actually didn't think you were gonna be back so early."

Mike scrunches his faux hawk, willing himself to stay calm in the man's presence. "Yeah, well, it's not really fun when Maryse is making everything all about her. Plus, I kinda thought you were gonna be there."

"I'm sorry."

"Nah, don't worry about it. You didn't miss much."

"No, I'm sorry I kissed you," Alex says, head to the floor, so desperately wanting to look up at Mike but not being able to find the courage.

Mike wondered how long it would take before they talked about what happened and now he knows. His heart beating hard. The base of his throat aching painfully. "Are you?" he asks bravely, hardly wanting this moment to pass him by. He tilts his head, searching for Alex's eyes, trying to coax the guy into looking at him.

Alex looks around as if he's contemplating the answer. "No," he confesses, finally connecting with Mike. "Kissing you was like winning my own championship tonight."

Mike exhales, sharp and ragged, completely paralyzed by such a blunt admission.

Alex winces, so embarrassed by the sound of his own voice, but he knows he's beyond the point of being able to keep his feelings to himself, and even if that wasn't the case, he knows he owes it to the guy after crossing the line and possibly tainting the greatest night of his life. Most of all, he owes it to Mike for the shit he pulled a week ago - getting arrested and humiliating him; almost costing his best friend everything. The fact that he isn't holding an icepack to a busted lip right now gives him the extra boost of confidence needed to get everything out in the open. "When I go back to my room at night, y'know, after hanging out with you, I feel like I left a chunk of me behind and all I wanna do is come back here and get it because when I'm with you again, I feel…"

Mike waits for Alex to finish, but when he realizes something is blocking the outlet, he gives Alex a gentle nudge to continue. "You feel what?"

"Don't laugh at me," Alex warns sternly, folding his arms across his chest, a subconscious effort to protect his heart.

Mike shakes his head, his eyes glistening over. "Never."

"Whole."

That one word has the power to cut off Mike's air supply mid-breath. In all these weeks, it seemed too impossible for Mike to even imagine Alex feeling just a fraction of what he feels for him, so he didn't. But there it is. Standing in the presence of such honesty makes Mike's knees grow weak for the second time since winning the championship. He lowers himself to the bed and sits there just staring at his title.

Alex shuts his eyes tightly, nearly regretting his candid confession. "Please say something."

Mike barely shakes his head, hardly knowing where to begin, but then the words start flowing from the inner reaches of his heart - something he's always had the power to block, but with Alex, he willingly relinquishes that control. "All I ever wanted was to win that title. I thought about what that moment would be like almost every day since I was a kid and tonight it happened, it finally happened and as stupid as it sounds, it felt like that was the moment I was born for, the whole reason I even exist. It was the best moment of my entire life."

Alex melts listening to the way Mike describes how he felt and prays he didn't tarnish the victory.

Mike looks up to Alex with overwhelmed emotion. "And then you kissed me and it was like none of that even mattered anymore. You made the best night of my life into the best night of my life."

Alex raises the back of his hand to his forehead. "Fuck," he breathes.

Mike discreetly chews the inside of his lip, physically trying to force back impending tears. "I know. How's that for a curve ball?"

Alex feels like he wants to laugh but he's too shaken, too nervous. "What are we gonna do?"

Mike shrugs hopelessly. "What can we do? I'm with Maryse and for all her faults, she's always been loyal and it's not exactly as if I can break things off with her now anyway. I've just been catapulted into the spotlight of this whole fucking company. Every eye is gonna be on me, scrutinizing every move I make in a way I can't even imagine." A solitary tear manages to break free when Mike realizes what he's going to say next, his body going numb. "I think we're at a dead end."

Alex nods, reluctantly agreeing to the bitter truth of it all. "I get it." And that's all he can muster before turning for the door.

"Don't go," Mike calls out desperately, immediately standing to his feet, attempting to compose himself.

Alex stops in an instant.

"Please stay. Until Maryse gets back?"

Alex wants nothing more than for this night to go on forever so he fulfills Mike's request without a second thought.

The two men situate themselves on the bed, sitting side by side, their backs against the headboard. Mike clasps Alex's hand in his own, their fingers mingling before interlocking and Alex rests his head on Mike's shoulder. They don't know how long they have but they're just grateful to have any extra time at all.

Mike chuckles inwardly. "It's ironic, isn't it?"

"What's that?"

"The one thing I've wanted my entire life is the one thing that will keep me from being with you."

Alex squeezes Mike's hand. "Y'know, back then I didn't understand how I could have lost. I didn't understand why I lost because up until that point, despite the minor glitches, it felt like everything had fallen into place so perfectly. I was good, I was really good, and you were the best pro on that board and you were my pro. But I understand now, and I'm so happy I lost because in losing that competition, I actually won."

Mike leans over and kisses Alex's forehead. All his own failures suddenly making a kind of sense he never thought possible.

Soon, Alex is asleep, but Mike forces himself to stay awake so Maryse doesn't walk in and find them like this, but when he receives a text from her saying that she's with Kelly and won't be back until later, he allows himself to fully relax.

For the first time in months, Mike and Alex are allowed to sleep in. Their schedules are cleared until next Monday when Mike will debut as the new WWE Champion. However, since the pair are so accustomed to waking up before dawn, sleeping in proves to be a useless benefit.

Mike slowly opens his eyes. He wonders if last night was merely a dream, but when he realizes there's an all too familiar blanket of warmth enveloping him, he knows it was real. Alex is close behind, holding him in his strong embrace and that perfect feeling he felt the night before washes over him again. Mike caresses Alex's arm and turns to face him. Caresses his cheek until he's met with comforting eyes.

"Oh shit!" Alex exclaims, nearly jumping out of the bed. "Maryse!"

"It's okay, she's not back yet."

Relieved, Alex settles back down on the bed next to Mike. "Aren't you worried about her? It's really late." He looks at his watch. "Actually, it's really early now."

"She sent me a text saying she was with Kelly a while ago. But you're right, she should've been back by now."

"I should go back to my room then," Alex suggests sadly.

Mike knows Alex is right but he can't bring himself to even nod. He doesn't want Alex to ever leave, but there he is, rolling out of bed, slipping on his shoes and heading for the door – obviously able to do what needs to be done, even if it's killing him on the inside.

"Alex…You forgot something."

Alex turns around, pats his thigh. Feels the contours of his phone, his keycard, feels his wallet in his back pocket and then looks back up to Mike confused. Mike gets out of bed and makes his way over to the table. He picks up the dented Money in the Bank briefcase he's always entrusted into Alex's care and even though it represents one of the most important milestones in his career, he also knows how much it means to Alex, so he hands it to his friend. "You keep it," he offers with a sweet smile.

Completely overwhelmed, Alex pulls Mike towards him and kisses him in a way that ensures the memory will last a lifetime - just in case this is the last time.

xxxx

Mike climbs back into bed even though he knows he won't be able to go back to sleep. He just wants to replay the events of the previous night over and over again while he still has the time because he knows everything is about to change. Unfortunately, it comes sooner than he had hoped.

He only has a couple minutes to himself before Maryse finally comes back. Mike wonders if she crossed paths with Alex in the hall and then he wonders why the hell she's even getting back at this hour. But then it occurs to him that he really doesn't care at all. He pretends to be asleep and lets his every thought be filled with Alex instead.