Punk obsessing over the gigantic mistake he almost made didn't last for long. There was a pounding on his door which Punk considered just ignoring until he heard Kofi's voice demanding to be let in. Punk opened the door to Kofi who entered his room, clearly with a purpose.
"Get to packing," Kofi said, throwing Punk's bag onto the bed, and then tapping his foot waiting for Punk to get to it.
"I don't need a roommate."
"No, a chaperone is what you need. I saw Ziggler coming out of your room. One week isn't long enough to get over the love of your life much less move on to someone new. You're going to make a mistake that you'll regret for the rest of your life if you keep going the way you are."
"And you're going to stand between me and emotional ruin?"
"I may come off all friendly and happy go lucky but I do have a spine so I suggest that you don't test me. Hand over your phone."
"What is this, prison?"
"No. Consider this an intervention and me protecting you from yourself." Punk handed his phone over and Kofi thumbed through the incoming calls. "Ziggler, Ziggler, Randy, Ziggler…do you answer when Ziggler calls?"
"No."
"Good, the next time he calls the person he's going to be getting on the line is me. What does Randy have to say about all of this?"
"I don't know. I've been dodging his calls too."
"It's going to be impossible to keep putting Randy off come tomorrow. There's only the one house show, and the rest is just a non-stop media blitz and autograph signings. Everyone is going to be there, John, Randy, Ziggler, possibly Ryder if he hasn't been broken in half," Kofi said as he directed Punk out of his room into his own. "Punk, sit down. I know you're not the most open guy, but you going this alone is what keeps getting you in trouble with Ziggler. You're vulnerable whether you want to admit it or not and he's taking advantage of that. Ziggler's not unattractive and he does have a way with words, he's a lot like you in many ways. I can see the attraction in that, but would you rather date a third rate version of yourself or John?"
Punk just looked at Kofi, his face contorted in pain. "What if I never get John back? What if he rides off into the sunset with Ryder? What if the only option I'm left with to not die single and alone and be eaten by wild dogs is Ziggler?"
"I'll lock you in a bedroom with Evan if it comes to that. He's got a crush. At the very least he'll get a novella length lecture on why he needs to lay off the spice. So, spill."
"What?"
"The first step to surviving this mess is to open up to someone and my schedule is cleared for the night so get to talking."
Punk finally relented due to Kofi's sincere nature. He told Kofi about everything, John's neglect, the suspicions he had about Ryder and the full run down about everything Ziggler had been doing. By the time he was through he had broken down in tears.
"First off, John is a nice guy. He would never even suspect that Zack was plotting to steal him away from you. I'm not really an expert on devious plans but Ryder certainly seems to have one. You're not the only one getting played here; you really need to talk to Eve."
"And tell her that she's being used for cover so Ryder can steal John out from under me?"
"Yes, and you're going to talk to Randy too, he's not going to give you a choice in the matter anyway. I'm pretty sure you've reached your limit on unburdening your soul for the night. We might as well get some sleep; this week is going to be rough."
January 24, 2012
Punk awoke to the ringing of his cell phone. It was across the room on Kofi's bedside table. It eventually stopped ringing, only to start all over again seconds later. He turned over on his side, ignoring whoever might be calling as per usual. That was until Kofi reached his hand out, looked at the screen and answered.
"Good morning Mrs. Brooks, this is Kofi Kingston," Punk held the pillow over his face. He really didn't want to take this phone call and hear how he had screwed things up with her beloved John. He felt Kofi nudging his shoulder. "You're going to take this. Go into the bathroom if you need privacy."
"Hi Mom."
"Sweetheart, tell me what happened."
"No 'Philip Jack Brooks,' no accusals of breaking John's heart?"
"I saw the show last night and the look on your face when John interrupted you. That and he seemed completely out of character from the nice boy I know him to be."
"We broke up."
"I'm sorry. What happened?"
"There was another guy who is scheming to take John away from me. I dealt with it for a few weeks before I finally lost it and now everything is a mess."
"A few weeks? Usually it takes around a few minutes before you go off."
"Well, it's John and…"
"You don't need to go there. I know it's painful and what you and John meant to each other. Why do you have someone else answering your phone?"
"Kofi's my self-appointed chaperone. He's here to keep me out of getting into any more trouble."
"And that means…" Punk did not respond. "Tell me the rest of it before I fly up there and start sleeping on a cot in your hotel room. That would do wonders for your reputation don't you think?"
"There was another guy."
"Exactly how many people are after John?"
"Not John…me."
"Philip, tell me you didn't…"
"It was a close call, but no. I'm going to spare you the details."
"Good thing, because I was about to book a ticket to come there and beat you with a switch for being an ass."
"Now that sounds more like my dear mother, threats of violence."
"Indeed, now put Mr. Kingston on."
"Huh?"
"Just do it." Punk came out of the bathroom and held out his phone to Kofi.
"She wants to talk to you."
Kofi just shrugged his shoulders and took the phone. "Yes Mrs. Brooks…Of course I am…Not on my watch…I think he would hit me back…I'll take that under advisement, have a great day Mrs. Brooks." Kofi turned to Punk, "Well that was interesting. I now have permission to beat you with a stick if you step out of line. Your mother was very…"
"What exactly did you expect from the woman that gave birth to me and raised me…Martha Stewart?"
Punk and Kofi showered and then met the rest of the roster for the trip to the airport since they would be taking the WWE jet for the trip. Punk entered the plane and the first person he caught sight of was Randy. Randy glared at him and gestured emphatically at the seat next to his.
"You don't have to do this right now. The last thing we need is a plane ride to hell reenactment. Sit here."
Punk gratefully took a seat a few rows up from Randy with Kofi blocking him from the aisle.
"Kingston, move, I'm sitting next to Phil."
"Ziggler, from here on out you won't even be sharing the same oxygen with Punk."
"Kingston, if you don't move I swear…"
"You'll what, hit me and get thrown off the plane, yeah, you do that. It'll be doing all of us a huge favor."
"Phil, come on, tell Kingston to move."
"Call me Phil again and I'll cut out your tongue."
"Punk…"
"Bite me Ziggler."
"I'd be perfectly happy to do that but you're not cooperating."
"Move along, I am so done playing with you."
Ziggler huffed and then walked down the aisle to find another seat.
Punk looked back up and caught sight of the person that had been behind Ziggler in line. It was John. He had most definitely heard the entire exchange. John looked at him steadily for a few seconds before moving down the aisle. Punk had no idea what to make of John's expression. What he couldn't fail to notice was that John did not have Ryder in tow.
Punk was immensely glad that he had only been booked for solo appearances that day. No John giving him indecipherable looks, no Randy looking ready to murder him and no Ziggler trying like hell to get in his pants. Punk was strangely serene and entered he elevator to take it up to his and Kofi's room. A hand shot out to keep the elevator from closing. Punk's serenity took a nose dive when he realized he was alone in the elevator with Ziggler, but Ziggler remained quiet while the elevator ascended. That was until Punk heard the alarm go off. Ziggler had pressed the emergency stop button. Ziggler dropped his bag and lunged at Phil, pinning him to the wall of the elevator. He tried to kiss Punk but he turned his head away, making it impossible.
"Please, Phil. Don't shut me down. Things were going so well. Can't you understand that I want you? Cena's out of the picture. He has no clue what he's lost but I know exactly what I have to gain. We're perfect together. I could make you happy, just let me try."
Ziggler buried his face in Punk's neck. His lips brushing up his jawline to stop at the tattoo behind his ear. Punk's entire body jerked at the wrongness of anyone else kissing him there except John and he slammed Ziggler into the opposing wall; pressing his forearm against Ziggler's throat and pressing the emergency stop button with the other so that the elevator continued its ascent.
"You ever touch me like that again and I'll break both your wrists."
"Phil, please…"
The elevator opened and Punk watched as Ziggler was jerked bodily out of the elevator and was thrown to the ground in the hallway.
"Stay the fuck away from him or I swear you'll never walk again," Randy said with a sneer, looking every inch like a person who wouldn't blink before breaking a person's legs. "And you…you're going to drop your bags in your hotel room and then you and I are going to have a long overdue conversation."
Punk walked down the hall and entered his and Kofi's room.
"Punk, do you wanna go get something to eat?"
"Sorry Kofi, Phil's all booked up."
Randy tore Punk's bag from his hand and threw it on the bed. Punk looked plaintively at Kofi who just shrugged and turned his attention back to the television. Randy dragged him back to the elevator and out the hotel entrance.
"Randy, I know you've talked to John and…"
"Yeah, I have, and if you would answer your damn phone or stop hiding behind your babysitter you would know that I have your back in this clusterfuck of a situation."
"What?"
"John's not some perfect being. He's just as prone to acts of moronacy like all of us. Probably even more so since he doesn't see the bad in people even when it's staring him right in the face. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that Ryder is clearly up to something."
"See, that's what I've been…"
"Oh, don't get all superior on me. What the hell is going through that twisted thing you call a brain? Ziggler, seriously? Why don't you let that little asshole fuck you in the locker room right in front of John for all the pain you're causing. You let him kiss you, with John not 10 feet away?"
"I didn't let…"
"But you didn't knock his teeth down his throat like he deserved. You let this thing carry on for far too long and made no secret of it. Don't you realize that the whole roster is probably telling John all about what you've been up to without him realizing it because his stalker had his full and undeserving attention."
"I know I fucked up and there is no way to fix this."
"What makes you say that? Aren't you CM Punk, the master of devious plans and schemes?"
"I am."
"Then we need to get to it. Between the two of us we'll be able to come up with something to remove Ryder from the picture and get John back where he belongs. Jesus that sounded like something out of a romance novel. You've got two chances to turn this around."
"What are you talking about?"
"We've got a house show and then the Royal Rumble. You're going to have to beat Ziggler bloody, show John that you don't give a shit about Ziggler."
"That I can do."
"Glad to hear it. If you were going to confess your love for Ziggler I would have had to murder you and then throw your body in the bushes or something."
January 28, 2012
Punk was well aware that the roster had taken notice of the strange trio that was him, Kofi and Randy. John especially kept looking at them with a confused expression. Punk thought it was kind a stupid to schedule a house show the day before the Rumble. With the rash of injuries plaguing the roster it would be just their luck for someone to get injured the day before the Rumble. While Kofi had taken on the task of being his life coach, Randy was taking a vastly different tack for the situation. Kofi would never advocate choking someone out to win a match but Randy was outright encouraging it. After all he had been at Smackdown the night that Punk had practically killed Jeff Hardy in the ring. Punk decided to take the middle road. He would play fair with Ziggler until he stepped out of line and then he would let loose on the guy.
Ziggler lasted a whole five minutes before he took advantage of the situation. He had hit a dropkick and then went for the pin. Ziggler hooked his leg behind the knee but his hand didn't stay there. It slid down his inner thigh and Punk came very close to being groped in front of a live audience. Punk kicked out, throwing a stiff elbow into Ziggler's jaw. They both got to their feet on opposing sides of the ring. Ziggler was staring at Punk as if he couldn't believe that Punk would rough him up, especially a move that would damage his precious face.
From there on out the action in the ring looked more like a UFC match instead of a WWE house show. Ziggler probably had a bruised larynyx from the array of chokeholds Punk was dishing out. There were no sit-ups and headstands today. Punk usually hit his high knee in the corner. The usual leap up slowed down his momentum, lessening the impact of the move. Punk came at Ziggler, his speed increased by coming off the ropes; he hit Ziggler with a high knee in the middle of the ring. Punk watched as Ziggler's eyes rolled back in his head and he hit the ground. Ziggler was knocked out. The official checked Ziggler who did not respond and deemed him unfit to continue, giving the win to Punk.
Punk returned backstage to Randy's congratulations and Kofi's shock that Punk had gone so far in the ring as to render someone unconscious. Punk returned to the locker room, only his and Ziggler's bags left. Punk didn't worry about Ziggler returning anytime soon because he was no doubt being subjected to the attentions of the trainer. Punk stripped down and took a shower, pulled on his clothes and packed his gear up. He heard the door bang open, knowing he would have to deal with Ziggler's anger at being treated so viciously, so he didn't bother to even look up.
Punk's bicep was jerked roughly, John dragging him into the shower area. John slammed him into the wall, pinning him there with his body. John grabbed two handfuls of his hair and their lips connected, John kissing him frantically. Punk moaned loudly and wrapped his arms around John's neck, giving him no way to pull back from the kiss. John dragged Punk to the ground, both of them rolling over repeatedly until John was on top, spreading Punk's legs wide until his was nestled between Punk's hips, grinding their groins together roughly. Clothes were merely pushed out of the way; they were both so eager to feel skin on skin contact. It was rough and wild and everything Punk had been aching for since he walked away from John. John's hand slid down his chest to grip his hip, his fingernails sinking into his skin as if John wanted to gouge out the tattoo that bore his name. It was getting heated and clothes were starting to be shed until John let out a yell, rolling off Punk so that he was soaked in the same freezing cold water that had hit John.
"What are you doing! You're just going to give him a pass after he treated you like shit. I would treat you so much better, you just have to let me," Ziggler forced out, his hand on the knob and his face contorting with something that resembled pain.
Punk felt his face start to color. He had been so desperate to have John back any way he could that he gave into John without thinking. John had chosen Ryder over him time and again and while he wanted John back Ryder was still standing between them. He was embarrassed that at the merest shred of attention from John he had folded without thought. Punk started to gather up his soaked clothes.
"Phil, wait, please…"
"Are you going to get rid of Ryder?"
"Whatever you think…"
"It's exactly what I think. I'm not going to be your second choice. You're only here because Ryder isn't around for you to give all your attention to."
"Phil, see, he doesn't respect you, he doesn't love you. I can do all those things and I won't replace you with the first whiny brat that comes along," Ziggler said plaintively.
"Ziggler you even dare…" John growled out.
"Oh, I do dare. You have no claim on him. You cheated and used him. He deserves so much more than you were giving him."
"He belongs to me!"
"That is fucking it! I don't belong to anyone but me, not anymore," and Punk stormed out the door, running into Randy. Randy looked at Punk and then John, noticing their drenched clothes.
"Not this again," but then he noticed an irate Ziggler. "I can't leave you alone for a second before things degenerate into an episode of Days of Our Lives."
"You're right. I don't need this drama right now; I've got a title to defend," and Punk walked with Randy out of the arena, leaving John and Ziggler behind.
AN: The reviews from the last chapter were so awesome I decided my faithful readers deserved a quick update. Also thank Mardi Gras that turned me into a shut in yesterday because I live on the parade route. Hope you enjoy.