ATM: The Bonehead and the Brain – The Boy is Mine
Now that Seth knows the whole Truth about Sasha and Roman, the Shield have a very difficult decision to make. With the New Year just around the corner, DX do everything they can to stop things from getting out of control.
Chapter Ten – Night Vision
Miguel's, Midtown, New York City, NY
HayMac moved to a booth in the lounge area of the restaurant after Seth and Sasha Rollins joined them for dinner. The Rollins' gave HayMac really good advice about being in an interracial relationship; about managing the expectations of their parents, dealing with casual racism and acknowledging cultural differences. The conversation resulted in Hayworth Helmsley feeling better while Charlene MacKenzie, who was no stranger to dating people from other backgrounds, felt awkward for a whole other reason that had nothing to do with race.
When the two couples moved to the lounge area, Seth left to take a call outside and MacKenzie decided to grab him before they re-coupled in the booth with Hayworth and Sasha.
Seth was calling Roman to make sure he was okay; he wasn't but he didn't want Seth to break his plans and told him to stay with Sasha and they'd talk in the morning. When Seth hung up he was upset but he tried to re-focus before going back into the restaurant. He turned and bumped into Mac who was looking as gorgeous as ever but was behaving more awkwardly then ever, which to Seth only meant one thing.
"You're falling in love with Hayworth," Seth said before MacKenzie could even speak and she blushed before stamping her black heels in protest.
"How can this be Seth?! We've only been dating for a few weeks and now I'm getting the same feeling I got around you when we...you know," MacKenzie said twirling her ponytail.
"When we fell in love?" Seth answered and MacKenzie smiled and Seth felt his legs go weak. "Please don't do that,"
"Hayworth is great and he's the first guy besides you who hasn't tried to get into bed with me after the third date. I think I might have found the perfect guy, now I need you to stop me from screwing it up," MacKenzie said.
"There's only one thing that could screw this up and that's on Hayworth. If he can maintain his cool, you'll both be fine. I wouldn't worry about it Mac, I think you two are going to make a great couple," Seth assured his ex-girlfriend.
"You mean like you and Sasha?" MacKenzie asked hopefully and Seth grinned.
"That's a pretty high bar but its one worth aiming for," Seth said.
"Mother Glee is going to be so disappointed, she wanted us to get married. I'm pretty sure she's still praying for you to marry me, I think you need to bring Sasha to Clearwater and prove that you're happily married," MacKenzie said and Seth remembered Miss Geraldine.
"I wouldn't mind seeing Miss Glee, even if it would be to disappoint her. I know how much she wanted me to marry the right woman," Seth said.
"You didn't just marry the right woman, you married the Boss. Bring Sasha with you, maybe if Mother Glee sees Sasha, she'll understand why she should stop praying for you to marry someone else," MacKenzie said and Seth furrowed his brow.
"Miss Glee thinks I married the wrong woman?" Seth asked curiously and MacKenzie nodded.
"Are you kidding? As far as Mother Glee is concerned, Sasha's just keeping you warm until your real wife comes along," MacKenzie said laughing. "Church moms right?"
"Right," Seth said and he fell silent rubbing the back of his neck. MacKenzie touched Seth on the shoulder considerately.
"Seth, is there something wrong?" Mac asked him and Seth shook his head and smiled at her.
"No I'm fine, I just got a lot on my mind. Its been a crazy year," Seth said, "I've got a lot of stuff to process,"
MacKenzie nodded smoothing away the worry ridges forming in Seth's forehead, "Maybe you should come to Clearwater this Sunday and talk to my dad. He's really good at new dad talk, he might ask you to stay and preach but at least you'll have someone you can talk to about being a new daddy if that's what's on your mind,"
Seth was very close to telling MacKenzie that he was not going to be a father after all but he knew that would be a mistake. Outside of Bianca, Alexa, his wife and the Shield, nobody knew the Truth about Sasha's baby. Until all the right people knew he would have to keep MacKenzie in the dark but MacKenzie could already tell that something was up.
"You know my looks don't you?" Seth said and MacKenzie nodded.
"I sure do Rollins, those looks used to keep me up at night and they were always because you were worried about Roman. Is everything okay, are you worried about Roman for some reason?" MacKenzie said and Seth smiled amazed at his ex-girlfriend's intuition.
"I hope you give Hayworth this much attention when he's going through some heavy stuff," Seth said and MacKenzie furrowed her brow.
"We're not at that level yet, you have to earn that kind of attention," she replied.
"Well when you are at that level, be sure to give him all the love you gave me and that was a lot," Seth said and MacKenzie smiled at him and they shared a hug.
MacKenzie looked at Seth earnestly as they separated, "I know something's up Seth and if it is about Roman, please talk to your wife about it and don't wait until it's too late. Roman has a way of taking over your life, don't let him destroy the most important relationship in your life, again,"
Seth was almost convinced that MacKenzie knew about Roman and Sasha but he was terrible at paranoia, so he ignored the temptation to tell her all about it and turned the conversation back to her future with Hayworth Helmsley. Seth knew that Mac was going to fall hard for the Cerebral Assassin's firstborn son and that alone brought a whole shopping cart of problems along with it. He was pretty sure Hunter was still mad at him for not "keeping his wife in check" but if things got even more serious between Hayworth and MacKenzie, Hunter was going to have a lot more a TV storyline to worry about.
Sasha and Hayworth were scrolling through Instagram when a video of Becky Lynch making out with a cop started popping up on all Sasha's feeds.
"Cute cop," Sasha said and she noticed that Becky was not wearing her Harvard sweater, hence why she was kissing hot cops in public. She turned to Hayworth and asked the Harvard grad if he had a spare Harvard sweater. "I need it so I can give it to my friend before she gets in some sort of scandalous video,"
"You mean like the one you and Seth got caught in back at Harvard?" Hayworth asked Sasha who nodded with a grin.
"Exactly," Sasha replied.
"I just so happen to have one in my apartment," Hayworth said as Sasha pocketed her phone.
"Is it nearby?" she said getting up and Hayworth helped her to her feet.
"Yeah its just a few blocks from here," he said and they walked out of Miguel's and told Seth and MacKenzie where they were going.
"We'll be right back," Sasha said and the Boss left with Hayworth to rescue her former NXT comrade who was getting way too friendly with the opposite sex.
"Should we go with them?" MacKenzie asked Seth.
"No, you could do with a break from Hayworth and I could do with an accomplice who doesn't work with me," Seth said and MacKenzie raised her eyebrow intrigued.
"An accomplice? For what?" she asked curiously.
"I'll explain on the way," Seth replied and he walked Mac to the Enigmatic Hotel on Central Park West to interrupt a very important meeting.
The Enigmatic Hotel
Stephanie McMahon was wrapping up her meeting with the Street Profits to whom she explained her proposal for giving them a complete re-brand.
"I see you guys as the new members of a classic faction. Ric Flair used to be part of something called the Four Horseman. I see you two by Ric's side with Charlotte Flair, in a new faction called 'Dynasty'." Stephanie explained before sighing in frustration, "Of course, it would be a lot easier to explain it to you if Ric and Charlotte were here but thanks to your wife and Becky Lynch, I can't present this to you as I see it in my head,"
Montez and Angelo nodded with smiles, "No we get it Miss McMahon, you want us to hang with Ric and Charlotte Flair. We can do that, we've been doing that, we get on really well with the Flairs, right Montez?" Angelo Dawkins said. "People even think Montez and Charlotte are messing around behind Bianca's back. It's crazy!"
"No what's crazy is that I can't get Bianca to see the big picture. She keeps listening to DX, like they know anything about hot storylines," Stephanie said pacing back and forth.
"With all due respect Miss McMahon, you don't work in the wrestling business anymore, so even if we did want to be part of a new faction with Ric and Charlotte Flair, how are we supposed to do that?" Montez said and Stephanie nodded.
"I know it seems like this is just a pipe dream but I'm not blowing smoke. Keep hanging out with Charlotte and Ric and eventually the fans will see that you guys are getting closer. It will get so much attention DX will be forced to co-opt it. The faction will happen organically but you guys have to do your part and get your wife to stay out of it. She doesn't see the vision, otherwise I'd have her join in but she clearly doesn't know what's best for her career. Why else would she be hanging out with Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch? That woman is a loose cannon who is always getting into some sort of trouble. She's unmanageable and your wife would be best advised to stay away from her," Stephanie said but Montez frowned.
"My wife really likes Seth Rollins, I think he's making her a better person. She really has grown ever since they started having all those Bible studies, as for Becky, she's exciting and one of the greatest women wrestlers who ever lived. My wife can't do too bad hanging out with them, not to mention the Shield and Alexa Bliss," Montez Ford said and Stephanie laughed.
She came closer to the Street Profits and looked at them both seriously, "I can't tell you everything but most of the names you just mentioned are all yesterday's news. I told you before Montez, you need to be careful who you align yourself with. Your wife is a lost cause but you and Angelo have the ability to enter the next exciting phase of the wrestling business. In the new wrestling world, all those people you just mentioned will not be part of it. If your wife wants to hang out with them that's fine but don't let her ruin your potential, stay focussed and stay in touch with me if you want to be working next year," she said and the Street Profits exchanged glances.
"We don't know all the details Miss McMahon but we hear you. Are you sure we shouldn't encourage Bianca to talk to you too? We don't want her to fall off, we want her to be successful too," Montez Ford said but Stephanie shook her head.
"I'm sorry Montez but your wife has already made her choice and she chose DX. Sometimes you can't take your spouse with you. If you value your career I suggest you stop going down the road she's on and follow in my footsteps," Stephanie said and she extended her hand to the Street Profits. "Do we have a deal fellas?"
Angelo shook Stephanie's hand, "Yes we do, I'm so excited to be working with you behind the scenes Miss McMahon!" he said enthusiastically and Stephanie smiled.
"Great, I'm glad you're on board," Stephanie said and she extended her hand to Montez Ford. "What about you gorgeous? Are you in, or are you out?"
"He's out," came the stern voice of Seth Rollins and the Street Profits turned to see him standing in the doorway with Charlene MacKenzie. "Do not shake that woman's hand Montez,"
Stephanie tapped the new shoes she'd finally broken in on the floor with her arm out, "Come on Montez, don't leave me hanging. What did I tell you about listening to the wrong people, Seth is one of those people. Now shake my hand and let's make it official," she said her straightened hair flowing over her left shoulder.
"Montez don't do it!" Seth said again and Montez looked at his hands and remembered the feeling that went through his hands when his wife prayed with Shawn and Amy during marriage counselling.
"The volcano," he said remembering the conversation he had with Shawn, Amy and Bianca, "my marriage is worth more than my career Miss McMahon. I'm sorry I can't let my marriage ice over like yours did. Seth's right, I'm sorry Angelo. I'm out,"
Montez got up and walked over to Seth who shook his hand and embraced him proudly while Stephanie pulsed with rage.
"Angelo you better wash that hand right now," Seth said and Angelo Dawkins went to find the nearest bathroom outside of Steph's executive office. "Go down to the lobby, I'll be right there," he said to Montez and MacKenzie.
"Nah-uh, I'm not leaving you up here with a pissed off Stephanie McMahon," MacKenzie said and Seth looked at her fondly.
"Are you worrying about me again?" he asked and MacKenzie gave him another breathtaking smile causing Seth to fall back in awe, "I told you not to do that,"
"I'll wait right here," MacKenzie said and Montez wondered about the history between Seth and Mac. It was a long story but it was one he definitely wouldn't mind hearing.
"I'll be fine Mac, take the Street Profits and wait for me downstairs," Seth said and MacKenzie relented and left Seth alone with Stephanie McMahon. Seth wasn't the easiest man to leave but Mac was getting better at it. The Prayer Warrior had some unfinished business to take care of and he wasn't leaving the Enigmatic Hotel until he got all his questions answered.
He stepped forward to Stephanie McMahon with conviction, her pretty snarl turning the atmosphere in a hostile environment, "Unseal those lips Princess, I'm not leaving until you tell me what the Hell you're doing talking to the Street Profits behind DX's back," Seth said firmly.
Stephanie stepped back and turned towards her mahogany desk. She pulled out a large bag and pulled out Seth's prayer shawl.
"I gave that to Alexa, why do you have it? Did you steal my prayer shawl?!" Seth asked Stephanie appalled.
"God gave this to you as part of your assignment to the DX family, then when you completed your assignment, you gave it to Alexa so that she could use it when she was assigned to the DX family. Now that the DX family have assigned you to me, its only fair that I do everything I can to make sure you are fully equipped to serve me Seth Rollins," Stephanie said and Seth furrowed his brow.
"What are you talking about? I don't serve you Stephanie, I serve God. I'm assigned to you there's a difference," Seth said. "Its my job to make sure you don't do anything outside of the will of God for your life,"
Stephanie unwrapped the prayer shawl and Seth smelt something really unpleasant. There was an aroma in the air so disturbing Seth had to cover his nose and it was coming from the prayer shawl.
"I don't see it that way Seth. I brought you fame and I brought you fortune, the way I see it, you have to do my will," Stephanie said and she laid the prayer shawl over her desk. "I've always wanted you and Bayley to be together but for some reason, you chose to marry that loud, arrogant prima dona Sasha Banks. They say love is blind but you walked into that mess of a marriage with both your eyes wide open. The only thing you can't see is how much Bayley loves you, well I pray that you will see how much she loves you Seth,"
"What did you do Stephanie?" Seth said and the prayer shawl rose up and hovered in the air, eventually it glided over to Seth and hovered over his head. The unpleasant smell surrounded Seth and he prayed hard to stop the prayer shawl from enveloping him.
"I prayed that you would lose your inability to see other women Seth. I prayed that you would see other women as options. I prayed that you would lose your holy conviction and go after any woman that caught your eye. I prayed that you would see Bayley and you would finally accept that she is the woman you are supposed to be with. I want you to see what I see Seth; you and Bayley, one happy couple, happy together, forever!" Stephanie said and Seth prayed so hard the prayer shawl started to change colour. He prayed against Stephanie's evil prayer and the prayer shawl changed back into its glorious pattern and design. The horrible smell was replaced with the aroma of prayer and Seth pushed the smell back to wherever it came from and Stephanie's desk suddenly caught fire.
Stephanie tried to put it out but she couldn't. The bay window flew open and the Holy Spirit blew Stephanie out of the executive office onto the veranda.
"Amen," Seth said closing the prayer and his prayer shawl, fully restored to its glorious condition, rested gently on his shoulders. He marched over to the bay window and pulled Stephanie back in. "Never do that again Steph. God's prayers are not to be messed with and neither are the tools He give me to do my job,"
"Your job is a pain in my butt Seth Rollins. Do you know how hard I prayed over this thing?!" she said pointing at his prayer shawl. "I prayed so hard but now you've undone everything I did. Bayley's going to be furious,"
Seth shook his head at Bayley's unconscionable behaviour. Her actions were further evidence that Bayley had no place in his life or Sasha's. He had no choice; he would have to tell Sasha the Truth about Bayley. Like she hadn't been through enough already this year.
"Steph, go find Jeff and try to stay out of trouble. I'll see you in the morning, we've got a lot to talk about," Seth said and he left the executive office and went to Mac and the Street Profits and headed back to Miguel's where Sasha and Hayworth were telling each other stories about how they met Seth and MacKenzie.
Stephanie wrapped her arms around herself after Seth left, "I'm sorry Seth but its your job to keep me out of trouble. I have no intention of making your assignment easy, like your slutty wife," she said and she called Bayley and told her to keep her friendship with Sasha intact because Seth was going to come against it and the Prayer Warrior was not playing around.