Nikki Cross has had limited success in talking to Alexa Bliss. Very rare, because the girl is just lost in Bray Wyatt's clutches, but Nikki is always too pushy about it, tries to confront Alexa about Bray and The Fiend, and ultimately leaves the girl on the defensive, and sometimes, more recently, the offensive. Mickie James has sat on the sidelines, first injured because of her knee, then because of a broken nose, but she finds herself re-entering the Thunderdome a couple weeks before Christmas, breathing in deeply as she glances around.
Everything seems quiet, at peace, soft lights twinkling nearby to welcome her, but the pretty visuals do little for her as she walks through halls, waiting and hoping to spot blonde pigtails, or a flash of that weird outfit Bliss has been wearing lately. When she finally does see it, her breath catches deep in her lungs and she has to pause for a moment until she can inhale normally once more. Stepping forward uncertainly, she walks up to her former tag partner and stands there patiently while Alexa giggles to herself and stares off into nothing. "Hey, Lexi," she finally says after a moment, almost amused when the girl jumps and turns to look at her.
"Mickie!" she exclaims, lunging forward to throw her arms around her. It's enthusiastic, almost knocks Mickie clean off of her feet, and she instinctively returns the embrace, breathing in deeply as Alexa lingers in front of her, a bright smile on her face. "I've missed you," she chirps.
Whatever Bray has done to her seems to have enhanced the more child-like parts of Bliss' nature- the stubborn need to have things her way, the awe she has for things like Disney... but it's also enhanced her more vicious ways, like attacking John Morrison and how she's handled things with Nikki lately. Mickie forces a smile and tucks some of Alexa's hair behind her ear. "I've missed you too," she admits softly and Alexa rocks forward, her eyes warm and deep with affection. For a minute, Mickie almost forgets what's going on, why she's really here, and she brushes her fingers down Alexa's cheek, grazing her lips. "Missed you a lot, Lexi."
For a moment, the control over Alexa seems to fade, her face shifts into an almost sad grimace, and then she has Mickie by the arms, a wide grin twisting her expression once more.. "We should go do something! Something fun! Maybe I can introduce you to my new friends!"
Mickie feels a shudder creep down her spine but she does have an idea, yes. "I know what we can do," she says after a moment, a sudden flash of warmth unfurling deep within her when Alexa's eyes brighten. "Come on, Lexi." She squeezes the girl's hand and leads her away, relieved that this at least worked. For now.
Everyone being centered in Florida during all of this mess does have its benefits, Mickie thinks as she stands in Asuka's kitchen and purses her lips at the impressive spread before them. "Ooh," Alexa breathes out, also in awe of all the shiny, pristine surfaces. "What are we doing here?"
"We," Mickie says, stretching to grab a large mixing bowl from the top shelf. "Are going to make Christmas cookies."
Alexa bounces on the heels of her feet and claps excitedly. "Yes!" It's an adventure, for sure. Alexa is like a little kid in a toy shop, watching wide eyed and getting her hands in everything as they make their way through the steps- collecting ingredients, and stirring them all together into a solid, sticky mass, and- Mickie exhales as more dough seems to make its way into Alexa's mouth than on the cookie sheet. She casts a withering stare at the girl when she sees that hand creeping once more in her peripheral. "Lexi," she says warningly and the hand disappears once more, allowing her to return to plopping cookies of the same general size onto the pan.
Somewhere during the process something shifts, again, and Alexa exhales, deeply, like someone surfacing after spending too long underwater. Mickie offers a glance but keeps her focus on the cookies before her, hand tight on her spoon as she drops more onto the sheet. Still, she jumps when arms curl around her, and Alexa's face buries between her shoulderblades. "Mickie," she whispers. "What's happening to me?"
Mickie immediately lets the spoon go and twists around to hug Alexa back. "I'm not sure, sweetie, but we'll figure it out," she promises, holding her tightly. "You just hold on, alright? Don't give up." She eases back from the desperate hug and touches Alexa's jaw, gently tipping her face up so they can look into each other's eyes, Mickie aching when she sees the tears in Alexa's eyes. "I'll get you out of there, I swear."
Alexa's smile is small, genuine, and it warms Mickie in ways nothing really has in months. "I love you, Mickie," she whispers.
"Love you too, Lexi, forever and ever." The moment isn't meant to last, Mickie knows that Bray's control will return at any time, but there are cookies to bake behind her, and the woman she loves standing before her once more, and for the first time in a long time, Mickie feels content.