The Man of Mischief
Chapter Six: Confrontation
Asuka watched the highlights of Survivor Series, seeing the results of the Smackdown vs Raw matches, but the match between Styles and Lesnar was what interested her, especially the result of AJ winning, thanks to Adrian.
"Stephanie will be furious of this, no doubt." Asuka sighed, shaking her head.
As if on cue, the commissioner of Raw herself marched into the room with Triple H close behind, her face red with anger, as she approached Asuka.
"Where's Adrian?" She demanded harshly. "Where is Loki?!"
Asuka just looked at her with a blank expression, unsure how to respond.
"I don't know." She finally got out, finding her words.
Stephanie just looked down at her with what was supposed to be an intimidating glare.
"Don't play dumb with me, Asuka." She growled. "I know you two are close. I DEMAND to know where he is!"
"I told you; I don't know." Asuka frowned. "Adrian does his own thing; even I know not what he does with his time when he's not spending it with me."
Stephanie looked like she was going to scream, but Triple H, thankfully, rubbed her shoulders, calming her down.
"Look, just," Stephanie began, through gritted teeth at first. "Tell Adrian that I need to see him. He screwed Raw BIG TIME with the stunt he pulled last night at Survivor Series, and if he thinks-"
"Did someone say my name?"
They looked to see Adrian approach, holding what looked like a pink present with a red ribbon.
"Yes, Adrian, I've been looking for you." Stephanie said, as if about to yell again. "You see, what you did last night-"
"Wait just a minute now, Steph." Adrian interrupted, holding a hand up. "Just hear me out for a moment, kay?"
Stephanie stood there with her arms cross, waiting for Adrian to speak.
"I know you're angry because of what happened last night." Adrian started, getting a nod from the commissioner. "I understand that you're mad over what I did last night."
"Yes, I very much am." Stephanie nodded.
"Which is why I'm here to apologize." The trickster went on, Stephanie with a confused look on her face. "I have my reasons for doing what I did, and believe me, I wish I knew of a different way to get under Brocks skin, but there wasn't one. But the more I thought about it, the worse I felt about it." He then held the present out to her. "Which is why I got you this!"
Stephanie gasped silently, her expression surprising, as she accepted the gift.
"Really? For me?" She said, Adrian nodding with a smile. "Wow, that's amazing!"
"I recommend that you open it at home." Adrian suggested. "Wouldn't want anyone getting envious now would we?"
"I most certainly will!" Stephanie said happily, before turning to her husband. "Let's go!"
Husband and wife left, leaving the two to their own devices.
"I never thought you would give such a sincere apology, Adrian." Asuka remarked.
She frowned, however, when Adrian started chuckling, then the chuckling turned to laughter.
"Let me guess," Asuka sighed. "That was no gift, was it?"
"Maybe," Adrian said innocently. "Let's just say that it smells real bad."
Asuka couldn't help but chuckle at this. She never liked Stephanie, and she certainly never liked Triple H. The Game was talented, sure, but she believed that he only married the Million Dollar Princess so he could make his name more relevant and inherit the company. Still, this had some good parts to it, like Triple H overseeing NXT, which she was thankful that Vince had no control over. As much as she despised him, she knew that Triple H had a better eye for talent than his farther-in-law, who obviously has a hard-on for overly muscular men with no talent.
'Vince wouldn't know talent if it smacked him across the eye.' She thought to herself.
"Anyways, I've heard from a certain bald eagle that AJ Styles was coming over." Adrian went on with a playful smile. "I wonder what would bring him here."
"Well, I suppose we should head out to meet him later tonight?" Asuka asked.
"No, I should head out to meet him later tonight." Adrian shooked his head, as he held up a hand before Asuka could protest. "He no doubt wishes to confront me about last night."
"But shouldn't I be there by your side, if anything happens?" Asuka asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I know AJ better than anyone else; I can handle myself." Adrian assured. "Besides, knowing AJ, he's become the egotistical 'good guy' who thinks he's doing the right thing."
He then fake coughed, saying 'John Cena' in between them, making Asuka giggle a bit.
"Besides, you've got a match later on." Adrian smirked, pointing a thumb over his shoulder towards Dana, who was watching from afar. "Don't worry; I'll be fine."
After they kissed, Asuka watched as Adrian casually walked off, hoping that he isn't going in over his head.
After what could be described as the quickest match she ever won, Asuka went to the viewing room to watch the remainder of the matches and segments. The last segment was starting now, as *Phenomenal* began to play and AJ Styles stepped out to a huge ovation from the fans. Entering the ring, AJ took the mic and walked around in the ring, taking in the 'AJ Styles!' chants, then stopped in the middle of the ring, the WWE championship around his waist, then raised the mic to his lips to speak.
"Hope you guys don't mind if I invade Raw for a little while!"
The crowd cheered loudly, putting a smile on the Phenomenal Ones face.
"Glad to hear you approve." He went on. "Thankfully, so does Kurt Angle, doin' a great job by the way, man."
The crowd cheered in agreement.
"Now, first off, I want to give my consolation congrats to Brock Lesnar." AJ said. "Now I know you guys don't like Brock, I get it. But even I have to admit it; the guy put up a great fight last night. I thought for sure I was gonna lose, when he hit me with the F-5, but then the unexpected happened."
The crowd cheered loudly, chanting 'Loki' over and over, which made AJ smile a bit.
"Yeah, you all know." He said. "Out of all the people I've met over the years, I never thought I would see him practically hand the victory to me. At that moment, when I thought it was over for me…none other than the trickster, Adrian Loki, walked down the ramp."
The crowd cheered loudly.
"That distraction gave me an opening that I wasted no time taking." AJ went on. "After I hit Brock with the Phenomenal Elbow, he accidentally knocked the referee out. And THEN…Adrian, that snake, slid into the ring, and speared Brock."
The crowd cheered even louder, making AJ chuckle.
"And I looked him dead in the eyes." AJ said. "My former stable-mate and friend, now my most hated rival, we stood there, and then," He held up a hand, giving the devil horn hand sign. "He smiled, giving our old sign of friendship back in the day."
He looked at the crowd, as they chanted 'AJ James', the name of their friendship, making him chuckle.
"And then, he suggested rubbing salt in Brocks wound." AJ continued. "He suggested that I do the Shooting Star Press. The move that Brock Lesnar botched at WrestleMania XIX against Kurt Angle, leaving him with a concussion. I admit, I was suspicious at first, but I went with it. And then, on that night, not only did I win for me, but also for Team Smackdown."
Some people who like Smackdown cheered, while those who love Raw booed.
"A mixed reaction, but I understand." AJ nodded, but then frowned. "However, as I celebrated in the ring, as soon as I turned around…BAM!" He slammed his fist into his open palm. "He hit me with a spear!"
The crowd gave a mixed reaction.
"To be honest, I can't quite figure him out." AJ admitted with a shrug. "I thought I had him figured out, back in TNA, where we first met," The crowd cheered at the mention at TNA. "But as it turns out, that's not the case. Now, I don't want to make any assumptions, but I think-"
Suddenly, *Me Against The World* began to play, sending the crowd into a frenzy, as Adrian Loki stepped out onto the stage, cane in hand, staring at AJ, then walked down the ramp, circling the ring, a smirk on his face.
Asuka watched from the viewing room as Adrian slowly went up the steel steps, his gaze locked with AJ, entering through the ropes, mic in one hand and cane in the other, as his theme song died down, the two former friends having an intense stare off, the crowd chanting 'AJ Loki' now, as AJ rose his mic to speak.
"Adrian; long time no see, stranger." He declared. "You know? Out of all the people I've met over the years, I never thought you, of all people, would be the one to hand Smackdown the victory last night."
Adrian chuckled, before raising his own mic to his lips.
"Oh believe me, AJ, I was surprised myself." He said, still having that smirk on his face. "But don't get the wrong idea, my dude. I didn't do it for you; I didn't do it for Team Smackdown. In fact, I couldn't care less about Smackdown, and I sure as hell couldn't care less about you. The only person I did it for was…" He pointed at himself. "Me."
"And what do you hope to gain by costing Raw the win, if you don't mind me asking?" AJ went on. "Don't get me wrong; I'm grateful, even though you just said you didn't do it for me, I'm just confused."
Adrian turned his head to the audience, who were chanting loudly, then turned his head back to AJ.
"Well, I suppose I owe you that much." Adrian said. "You see, last night, before my match with…Sha-Shane? Shirley?" He scratched his head in fake confusion, before chuckling. "I'm sorry, I totally, one hundred percent forgot his name. You know, he's a red-head, looks like a rooster, has skin so white, the KKK have been trying to recruit him for years, who was he?"
The crowd laughed at his joke.
"You see, that's how little I care about someone, I forget who they were." Adrian shrugged, before continuing. "Anyways, before my match, I was approached by Lesnar's advocate, Paul Heyman."
The crowd booed at this.
"It started out as a friendly greeting; Paul telling me good luck with Paste Boy," Adrian went on, the crowd laughing at his insult towards Sheamus. "I politely told him that I wish Brock luck in destroying Styles." He held up a finger. "BUT! Then he said something that kinda bothered me, only a little bit. He said that he wishes me luck with my plans for the Royal Rumble, but he also said…that I could go for any title I choose…EXCEPT for the Universal title."
The crowd booed loudly at this.
"You know how it goes," He said rolling his eyes. "He hyped up Brock, saying he's the 'Beast Incarnate' and how he is 'undisputed' and 'undefeated' and all that bullshit to try and scare me, blah blah BLAH!" He smirked once again. "But all he did…was made me want the title even more."
The crowd cheered loudly, Adrian acknowledging them.
"Anyways, he also said I'm better off jumping to Smackdown, and believe me," He smirked, stepping up to AJ. "I was very tempted to settle for you, to finally settle things between us once and for all." He stepped back, shrugging. "But I'll settle for Brocky boy and save the Phenomenal for last."
The crowd cheered loudly at this declaration, as Adrian turned his attention to the audience.
"You see, everyone, unlike Vince, I understand what you guys really want." He said. "I'm also sick of Brock always being given the title without earning it. I'm sick of Vince's fetish for giant, overly muscular people. I'm sick to death of Vince never giving the newer talent a chance, of always being so disconnected from what the fans want, and I'm sick of it!" He points to the audience. "So, as the Man of Mischief and the Agent of Change, I've decided that, once I win the Royal Rumble, I WILL challenge Brock for the Universal title and I. Will. WIN!"
The crowd cheered loudly, then Adrian turned his attention to Styles.
"And AJ? Once I'm done with Lesnar," He said. "After I kick Brock Lesnar back into the retirement home, where he belongs," He got up close. "I'll be gunnin' for you next. And you BETTER still be champion when I do."
Dropping the mic and his music plays, Adrian left the ring, the crowd cheering loudly and AJ clapping.
Asuka waited for Adrian backstage, seeing him approach with a smile on his face.
"So, it is official?" She asked.
"It most certainly is." Adrian nodded with a smirk. "It's about time I put my ambition into motion."
Before they could leave, however, they are approached by none other than Dolph Ziggler, looking all too pleased with himself.
"Saw the promo you had with Styles out there." He said. "I have to say, you've got guts, challenging Brock and calling him out like that."
"I say it because it's true." Adrian deadpanned. "I'm sick of Vince trying to force Brock down people's throats when they're clearly sick of him. It's time they got a new champion and time for other new faces to get a shot at the title."
"Well, that's good to hear and all," Dolph said. "And maybe once you win the title, IF you win, maybe you can give me a shot?"
"That depends if you're still on Raw when I win." Adrian said with a smirk. "Besides, there's no one I'd rather face than my best rival."
"Well, boys both of you will get your shot soon."
They turned to see Kurt Angel, the Raw general manager, approach, his son, Jason Jordan, following close behind.
"Boys, you two have put your all in the last month." Kurt began, looking at Dolph. "Dolph Ziggler, you've been busting your ass since you first started, yet you've been run into the ground constantly by management. I'm not gonna waste such incredible talent like you." He then turned his head to Adrian. "And Adrian Loki? I didn't approve of your actions in costing Raw last night, but I understand why you did it. Not only are you talented in the ring, but you speak the truth and make sure you're heard." He put his hands together. "So, both of you will have a match later next week, and no matter who wins or loses, you're both already guaranteed spots in the Royal Rumble."
Dolph and Adrian looked to each other, then back to Kurt, skeptical.
"What, you think there's a catch?" Kurt said, mock hurt, then grinned. "Okay, fine. There is ONE stipulation; the winner of your match will be guaranteed the number 30 spot, while the loser has to enter at number 1."
Both men's eyes widened with shock, as Kurt gave a satisfied grin.
"Good luck, gentlemen."
Kurt and Jason left, Dolph and Adrian looking at each other and smiling. Next week was no doubt going to be interesting.
Meanwhile, at the Helmsley-McMahon residence…
Stephanie and Triple H arrived at their mansion (At least I assume they live in one anyway lol), entering their home, Stephanie carried the present under her arm, a smile on her face.
"You know, Paul; that Adrian boy wasn't half bad." She declared, setting the present on the table. "He seemed so sincere, although it was hard to tell, but for him to go out of his way to get me this? It seems so sweet of him!"
"Sure looks like it, Steph." Triple H nodded, popping a piece of carrot in his mouth.
"Well, let's see what he got me!"
Undoing the ribbon, Stephanie lifted the lid off the box, but a black and white tail stuck out, and then she was sprayed with green mist, causing her to drop the lid and her face to twist with shock.
She screamed in shock and ran up the stairs, while Triple H looked to see a skunk crawl out of the box and onto the table. Shrugging, he fed it a piece of carrot, which it gladly ate.
"That boy Adrian," He sighed, before chuckling. "He reminds me of my younger days."
And there's the new chapter! Merry Christmas, by the way! Hope you got the gifts you wanted and hope you had the best Christmas ever! Here's the new chapter as a late Christmas present from me to you guys, my amazing readers!
Now, next chapter, Adrian and Dolph will go one on one to see who enters first and last in the Royal Rumble! And maybe even the Royal Rumble itself? Who knows? We'll see! Thanks so much for reading and I hope you guys stay tuned for the next chapter! Be sure to review!