The Man of Mischief
Chapter Three: Tag Team Trouble
The next week came around, and Asuka had just entered the arena with her duffle bag containing her wrestling gear. Though she wasn't wrestling tonight, she was interested in seeing Adrian's tag match against Sheamus and Cesaro, with Dolph as his partner. She wasn't sure if the two men could coexist tonight, given their history. Regardless, she hoped that Adrian would at least try to get along with his partner tonight.
Despite Adrian being talented, he never could hold a stable team, no matter who it is. He always ended up betraying his partner for various reasons, such as not getting along with them, unwilling to tag out a partner who he believes is doing a terrible job in the ring, or in his opinion, the person he's partnered with not worth teaming with, gaining him the infamous nickname 'Betrayer'. Because of this, he never won a tag title, and if he did, he would lose them in short time by leaving his partner to fend for himself.
It's not like there wasn't a good reason for this, however. He was once part of the Bullet Club stable back in NJPW, challenging and winning the IWGP Heavyweight Championship from Kazuchika Okada, AJ Styles becoming jealous of Adrian, who was still a rookie Adrian James at the time, winning a championship that should be his, resulting in the Bullet Club turning on and attacking Adrian, ejecting him from the stable and Adrian taking control of the opposing stable, Chaos, declaring war on his former stable-mates.
On her way to the women's locker room, she spotted Adrian at the corner, peeking out, as if looking out for something. Curious, Asuka walked up behind him.
"What are you up to now?" She casually asked, earning a hush from Adrian.
"Watch." He whispers, motioning to what he was looking at.
Peeking around the corner, Asuka could see the Miz holding a special decorated present, and could only guess it was from Adrian's little scheme.
"Well, what have we here?" The Miz mused aloud, inspecting the present, seeing the tag. "From little Timmy, huh? My biggest fan?" He then chuckled. "Well, finally, someone acknowledges that I am in fact awesome!"
As soon as he opened the present, however, green slime exploded all over his face, making him drop the box in surprise and anger. Asuka looked at Adrian, who was more than pleased, with that satisfied grin on his face.
Leaving the Miz to stew in anger, the duo swiftly left, Adrian finally bursting into laughter, once they were at enough distance.
"You should try not to laugh so loud, Watashi no yūjin." Asuka warned teasingly. "Wouldn't want him to find out so soon."
"Worth it, if I can see the look on his face." Adrian smirked. "Besides, Mizzy boy's always so full of himself."
"Now who does that remind you of?" Asuka mused playfully.
"Don't compare me to that braggart." Adrian huffed offended. "I know I'm good at what I do. I just don't feel the need to constantly talk about it."
"True." Asuka shrugged, smiling. "Besides, you're much more talented than him."
The two laughed aloud, before being approached by Dolph Ziggler.
"Dude, there you are!" He declared. "Where were you at?"
"Just delivered a little present to the Miz." Adrian smirked. "To say the least, he's a little green with envy."
"Ah, I see." Dolph said, before shrugging. "Anyways, we've got our tag match later on."
"Ah yes, the pasty faced hothead and the Swedish Matthew Santoro." Adrian chuckled. "Hopefully, they'll put up a better challenge than last week."
"Do not underestimate those two, Adrian." Asuka warned. "You were lucky, very luck, in defeating Sheamus during your debut, but together, they will make things harder for you."
"Not to mention you're on their shit list, since that stunt you pulled last week." Dolph added. "Still, hard not to find that funny."
"Still, be on your guard." Asuka continued. "They will throw everything they have at you."
"And we'll throw ten times harder." Adrian shrugged, smirking. "You shouldn't worry so much, kōheina kōgō."
Asuka blushed a bit from his smooth words. He always knew the right words to say to put a bit of red on her face.
"Right, well, I'm gonna go get ready." Dolph backed up a bit, before turning to Adrian. "I expect to see you in the ring, Loki."
And Dolph walked off, leaving the two alone.
"Just us now." Adrian smirked playfully. "So, what do you want to talk about?"
"Well, we can start with what you've been up to." Asuka suggested. "We haven't seen each in years."
"That is true." Adrian admitted. "Plus, I did miss seeing that lovely face of yours; that lovely hair and those beautiful eyes."
Asuka blushed once more from the flattery.
"I could go on for ages." Adrian chuckled. "But sadly, we have matches to attend to, so it'll have to continue another time."
As he turned to leave, Asuka grabbed his arm, stopping him.
"Actually, I have a favor."
"Oh?" Adrian said, smirking. "Do tell."
"As you already know, I will be a part of Team Raw in a five-on-five match at Survivor Series." Asuka explained. "And I would appreciate it if you would accompany me."
"Is this a response to my request to you?" Adrian asked, smirking. "Or do you perhaps wish to show off for me?"
"It's nothing like that!" Asuka denied, blushing once again. "I just feel like your presence gives me more confidence, like it did when we first started wrestling."
"Ah yes, the good ole days." Adrian sighed at the old times. "I miss those days."
"Well, if it's okay with you," Asuka went on. "I would like you to be there at my side, since I'm doing the same for you."
"Well, I do miss seeing you wrestle." Adrian mused, before smiling. "Okay, I'll do it!"
"Great!" Asuka smiled, hugging him. "Thank you so much!"
Adrian smirked as he embraced her, relishing in it. After what felt like hours, the two parted at last.
"Well, then," Asuka cleared her throat and straightened herself up. "I suppose I will see you later?"
"Yeah, sure." Adrian shrugged, turning to walk away, before Asuka stopped him once again.
"Is it okay if we…hang out after the match?" She asked. "Like the old days?"
"Sure, I don't mind." Adrian said, nodding.
As Adrian walked off, Asuka couldn't help but smile. This would be her only chance to rekindle that friendship with her childhood friend.
Or perhaps…it could become something more?
Regardless, Asuka was determined. Grabbing her duffle bag, she made her way to the women's locker room.
After several matches, Asuka watched as *Hellfire* began to play, as Sheamus and Cesaro come out and posed on the stage, receiving a loud boo from the fans. After fist bumping, the villainous duo began walking down the ramp.
"The following contest is a tag team match set for one fall!" Lillian Garcia announced. "On their way to the ring, at a combined weight of 499 pounds…Sheamus and Cesaro…THE BAR!"
Asuka couldn't help but think about the name. The Bar? What kind of idiotic name is that? Regardless, she watched intently.
After the duo got in the ring and posed once more, they stood in the middle of the ring, ready for their opponents.
After the music died down, *Here To Show The World* began to play, and Dolph Ziggler came out to a very loud cheer from the fans as he posed on the stage, before making his way to the ring.
"And their opponents," Lillian announced. "From Hollywood, Florida, weighing at 218 pounds…DOLPH ZIGGLER!"
Posing on the ropes before entering the ring, Dolph got on the turnbuckle and posed for the crowd, receiving a massive ovation, before going over to his corner.
Once the song died down, *Me Against The World* started playing, as Adrian stepped out onto the stage, raising his cane up and receiving a huge ovation from the crowd, before walking down the ramp.
"And his partner," Lillian announced once more. "From Kyoto, Japan, weighing at 172 pounds…he is the Ultimate Trickster…ADRIAN LOKI!"
The crowd cheered as Adrian slid into the ring and stood on the turnbuckle, Sheamus was itching to get his hands on the trickster, but Cesaro told him to wait until the match actually starts.
Smirking, Adrian stepped down, removing his trench coat and putting it and his cane to the side and got to his corner with Dolph.
The bell rings, Cesaro steps out onto the apron, allowing Sheamus to start off. Dolph exited onto the apron, allowing Adrian to start off as well, Adrian wanting to humiliate Sheamus once more.
The two circled each other, Sheamus still steaming from the humiliating defeat two weeks ago, even more from the embarrassment from last week, now all he wanted was to crush Adrian like a bug. Adrian just looked at him with that usual smirk, seeing Sheamus as nothing more than a big fish in a small pond.
Infuriated, Sheamus makes to punch him, only for the trickster to dunk under and roll him up, hoping to humiliate Sheamus once more, only for the Celtic Warrior to kick out and retreat back to his corner, refusing to be humiliated once again.
Adrian stood and gave Sheamus that usual smirk, as if taunting him, but Sheamus refused to fall for it, tagging in his partner, letting Cesaro take charge. Adrian still gave that smirk, but Antonio refused to fall for it.
Ziggler called for Adrian to tag him in, holding out his hand. Adrian looked at Ziggler, then two Cesaro, stuck his tongue out, then tagged in his partner, letting Dolph take charge.
The Showoff and the Swiss Superman circled each other, before locking up in a grapple. Cesaro got Ziggler in a head lock, but Ziggler bounced off the ropes, pushing the Swiss off of him, only for Cesaro to bounce off the ropes and hit Ziggler with a clothesline, knocking Dolph to the mat. He then ran to the ropes, bouncing off, but Ziggler rolled under him, then jumped over him, then knocked him down with a jumping clothesline.
He then shouted at the crowd, posing, causing the crowd to cheer loudly, then proceeded to put Cesaro in an arm lock, before tagging in Adrian, the two whipping Cesaro off the ropes, then knocking him down with a double elbow smash to the face, then hit him with a double standing elbow drop, Adrian ran to the ropes and hit Cesaro with the Lokisault, then attempted to pin him, only reaching two.
Adrian grabs Cesaro's arm and applies the Chickenwing. Cesaro struggled to get up, but Adrian kept applying pressure to the arm, before standing up and kicking him across the back, then spun around and mocked Sheamus, angering the Celtic Warrior, but the referee stopped him from entering the ring, leaving Adrian to drag Cesaro over to his corner and stomp him down while the ref was distracted.
Asuka frowned at this. Although she knew that Adrian always preferred to walk the fine grey line between heel and face, she always looked down on his dirty tricks.
Adrian tagged in Dolph, who proceeded with the beat down and let up when the ref counted to four, then tagged in Adrian, who tossed Cesaro over to Sheamus' corner, daring him to tag in.
Tagging himself in, Sheamus stepped into the ring and stared down Adrian once more, who only stood there with that mocking smirk, angering Sheamus again, who ran towards him, only for Adrian to sidestep him right over the ropes, shouting and getting the crowd riled up, as he ran and hit Sheamus with a suicide dive, knocking the Celtic Warrior down, Adrian bouncing up and popping the crowd.
Asuka smiled as Adrian got Sheamus back into the ring, then proceeded to the top rope, but Cesaro grabbed his foot, and although Adrian managed to kick Cesaro off, Sheamus got up and punched Adrian, stunning him, allowing Sheamus the chance to prop the trickster on his shoulders and hit him with the White Noise before going for the pin, only reaching two.
Frustrated, Sheamus held Adrian in a crossface chickenwing, screaming at Adrian to tap out, but the trickster refused to give in, just kept that usual smirk.
Asuka never figured out how Adrian does it; every time he wrestled, no matter who he's put up against, he always smiles that dumbass smile of confidence. But that's one of the things she's always liked about him.
Getting to his feet, Adrian hit Sheamus with a jawbreaker, followed by the kesagiri chop to the chest, then an atomic drop, finished up with a drop kick.
Adrian climbed up the top rope, but Cesaro got into the ring and charged, only to be stopped in his tracks with a Zig Zag from Dolph Ziggler, allowing Adrian to hit Sheamus with the elbow drop, jumping up and yelling, getting the crowd riled up even more, as they chanted 'Loki's Spear' over and over. The crowd wanted, and Adrian plans to deliver.
Moving to the corner, Adrian crouched, setting it up, as Sheamus struggled to his feet, then as soon as he turned around, Adrian ran and hit him with Loki's Spear, pinning him 1, 2, 3!
The crowd cheered loudly, as Adrian and Dolph celebrated in the ring, hugging and congratulating each other, before raising each other's hands.
Asuka smiled at this, as the duo walked up the ramp. She couldn't help but be surprised at how well the match went. Once again, Adrian never really got along with certain people he's teamed with, but tonight it went well. And She's glad it did.
Leaving the women's locker room, Asuka spotted Adrian and Dolph outside the men's locker room, chatting it up and laughing, as she listened.
"That was a great performance out there, Adrian." Dolph declared with a smile on his face. "I'm glad it went well."
"I'm surprised it went anywhere at all." Adrian chuckled, smirking. "You're lucky I like you better than most."
"Yeah, I guess that had a hand in it, huh?" Dolph grinned. "Well, talk to you later, Loki!"
After Dolph walked off, Asuka walked up to Adrian.
"Another great performance, Trickster." She spoke up, smiling.
"I believe it was, yes." Adrian said, turning to her, smiling. "I'm glad you enjoyed it."
Asuka felt her heart beat at the smile on Adrian's face. It wasn't that cocky smirk he always had, but a genuine smile. She doesn't understand it, but something about Adrian's smile that made her happy, but it does.
"Well, I'm glad you won the match." Asuka said. "Usually, you're terrible at tag matches."
"Eh, it depends on who I'm paired with." Adrian shrugged. "By the way, the pay-per-view after Survivor Series is the Royal Rumble, right?"
"Yes, of course." Asuka nodded. "Why do you ask?"
Adrian smirks a dangerous smirk.
"I have big plans for that event."
Like what? Asuka wondered what sort of plans Adrian has for the event, except for the obvious Royal Rumble match.
"And what would that be?" Asuka dared to ask.
Adrian only chuckled.
"You'll see." He said, before turning towards the exit. "For now, how about that 'hanging out' thing? I'd like to catch up, if you don't mind."
"Of course!" Asuka smiled. "I'd be happy to!"
And with that, the two walked out, Asuka pushing her thoughts about Adrian's plans to the side for now, to enjoy her time with her childhood friend.
And finally, another chapter! Hope you guys are still enjoying the story so far and hope you guys forgive it if it seems rushed, I've pulled an all-nighter on this one. Still, I hope you guys are still enjoying the story and are waiting patiently for more. Anyways, if you guys see things that can be improved, let me know in the reviews or in private messages. As always, see you guys in the next chapter!