Author: Rebellecherry
Title: Hello Heartache
Summary: The ink just has dried on John's divorce papers and he can no longer deny the secret that he's hidden his entire life. His best friend Nikki pushes him closer to CM Punk an equal in the company a sometimes adversary, always an attractive distraction and he just might be the best heartache John has ever had.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything! I don't know these people, and I am in no way affiliated with this NYSE traded company. I am not saying that this has or will ever happen this is just an artistic release. And expression.
Not an Angel
Morning came quicker than it should have and the house exuded sounds of life, he smelled breakfast being prepared downstairs and came strolling down after making use of the in suite bathroom he managed to wash his face, brush his hair and teeth before coming downstairs still rumpled wrapped in Nikki's fuzzy purple blanket to find his best friend and boyfriend engaged in conversation about sex.
"So that was how I lost my virginity," Nikki explained.
"Lemme guess you stole some poor flute player's heart," Punk supplied and Vince laughed pulling out a chair for him.
"It was totally the other way around," Nikki said, "it was me played who flute had bad acne chicken legs no tits."
"You?" Punk said easing into a chair, he was a little sore from the night before and was totally regretting it.
"I have pictures to prove it," Nikki said, "I was an ugly duckling who transformed herself into a sexy swan."
Vince laughed, "You thankfully just missed the story about my first time. Most embarrassing story ever."
"Really," Punk said plucking a strawberry off the table, "you never talked to me about that one."
"I wanna hear about you first," Vince said with a smirk.
Nikki nodded too all the attention suddenly on Punk.
Punk froze, "I don't wanna talk about it."
"C'mon Punky Pal, tell us," Nikki said.
He glanced down at the table taking a deep breath, "I don't want to talk about it."
"Baby, I want to know everything about you," Vince said.
"Not this," Punk said.
"Is it bad Punky Pal?" Nikki said concern showing on her face.
He gave a jerky nod and didn't look up, he'd spent many years actively not thinking about this, "It's okay, I'm good now."
"Did someone make you do something you didn't want?" Vince asked.
"Nope," Punk said, "what makes you think that?"
"Well why else won't you share," Nikki whined.
"Don't want to," Punk said, "it's sad strange little story where I don't come out in such pleasant light."
"Was the first time for you with a girl or a guy?" Vince asked.
"It was a man," Punk said, "and I don't want to talk about it."
Vince set a stack of pancakes in front of him.
"Please?" Nikki said, "Tell us. I made espresso."
"The good shit?" Punk raised an eyebrow.
"Do you think I would buy anything else?" Vince asked.
Once Punk got his coffee he felt marginally better.
"Are you really not going to tell us, you bitch?" Nikki asked.
"Nope, not saying a word," Punk said.
"We could tickle it out of you," Vince suggested.
"It's embarrassing," Punk whined, "and Nikki is going to tease me about it."
"Who'd you lose it to?" Nikki said.
"Not saying," Punk said.
"Please say it wasn't your dad," Vince said returning to the table with a stack of bacon.
"Gross, no," Punk said, "I wasn't raped and it wasn't my dad."
"Well, who was it?" Nikki asked.
"Did you cook?" Punk asked.
"Yes," Vince said.
"Liar, Cristina stopped by this morning and cooked and put in a load of laundry. I finally have clean sports bras!" Nikki said excitedly.
"You had to go and blow the little bit of kitchen street cred I had," Vince told Nikki who offered him a shrug in response.
Punk laughed hoping the subject was effectively changed, "It's okay."
"Are you gonna tell us about your first time?" Nikki asked.
"Decidedly not," Punk said pouring a healthy dose of syrup on his pancakes, "why is it so important, anyway?"
"Seems like you had a bad time Punkers," Nikki said.
"It wasn't a bad time, I just won't be represented in a good light," Punk said, debating whether or not he should just make something up to get them off his back.
"Nothing can change the way I feel about you," Vince told him, "even if it turns out that you did fuck a family member."
Punk laughed, "And exactly how do you feel about me?"
Vince gave him an intense stare, "I'm gonna tell you but not like this."
"I didn't fuck a family member," Punk said, "is that really what the two of you think?"
"It's gotta be pretty taboo or you would have totally told us," Nikki pointed out, "I mean, why else would you be holding back?"
"Because the story is embarrassing as fuck," Punk said, "and I'm kind of the asshole in the story. I mean you would assume that I was taken advantage of or something clichéd and Lifetimey like that."
"It might make you feel better to talk about it," Nikki said.
"It might," Punk said, "to be honest, I still feel pretty shitty about it, I'm supposed to feel shitty about it what I did was horrible. But I'm not gonna talk about it. Five counselors have tried getting it out of me, but I called bullshit on them too. Can we eat now?"
"Why won't you open up to anyone?" Nikki asked.
"I just can't," Punk said, "I was an asshole. I'm trying not to be that way anymore, I told you that already."
"Did you hurt someone?" Vince asked.
"Yes, but not the way you're thinking it came after the sex, which was surprisingly good and very painful," Punk said, "I didn't have the finesse I usually have when preparing myself. And he wasn't the gentlest of partners."
Nikki and Vince shared a look, Punk groaned, they were worried about him. They'd drawn the worst possible conclusions and he'd pushed them into it by being so vague.
"Subject change?" Punk asked.
"Yeah," Nikki said pouring herself some orange juice and shaking her head.
The conversation was far from over, Punk shut his eyes, he'd tell them without telling them. Maybe Randy was on to something with the journal reading, he'd kept a journal since he was thirteen, he'd been given a journal along with a video game that went to a system he didn't own and a promise that he'd get it for his Christmas. He never got the video game system but journaling stayed with him.
"So what are we doing today? Vince asked pulling up a chair and sitting close to Punk.
"Well, for starters, we really need to get waxed," Nikki said, "and I could really used a pedicure."
"We do need to get waxed," Punk said.
"Okay, so you'll go to the spa I'll work on some things, then I'll take you two shopping and then we'll have lunch in the square, then we're on a plane to Tampa."
"Shopping…I don't know," Punk said.
"Let me spoil you," Vince whispered.
"Yeah let him spoil you," Nikki said, "and me too."
Vince laughed, "Yes, Phillip let me spoil you."
"I…" Punk whispered shaking his head, he didn't deserve the kind way Vince was treating him nor the man's willingness to give him whatever he wanted.
He ate his breakfast quietly, and then he went to get dressed and he and Nikki left by car to go to the spa.
"If you don't want to talk about it you don't have to," Nikki said.
"I don't want to talk about it but it's not like I don't want you to know," he said, "you know about my journals right?"
"Yeah," Nikki said.
"I was going to let Vince read the first few," Punk said, "it might change what he thinks about me, and you should read them too. The thing with John the other night is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the horrible things I'm capable of."
"Punk what you did with John wasn't horrible, you love him, and he loves you too," Nikki explained, You're confused, you love two different men in your heart and it's only natural that you want to give both of them your body."
"I'm a cheater, and not only am I a professional wrestler, I am a professional life ruiner," Punk said, "yeah those first journals are about me fucking this up for sport. I thought I'd gotten past that point in my life."
"You were a professional life ruiner too?" Nikki asked, "I knew we were destined to be friends! I've been clean for three years. How long since you last fucked things up for someone else and had a good laugh about it?"
"It's been six years since the last time I ruined someone's life," Punk said gravely.
"Did you feel guilty after you did it?" Nikki asked.
"No, I demanded bus fare and kept the sex tape," Punk said, "Scott made me burn it along with all the other trophies from that point in my life."
"John made me do the same thing," Nikki mused, "it was really a shame he made me burn that dress I extorted from Angie."
"Angie Jolie-Pitt?" Punk asked, "did you really throw away a dress worn by that goddess?"
"Please, Punk, do you think I would have gotten rid of that?" Nikki said, "it was Angie Harmon."
"Oh," Punk said.
"See it's not nearly as cool as you thought," Nikki said, "what's the best trophy you managed to collect?"
"See I never really got the cool stuff I always kept the future blackmail material," Punk said as the car came to a stop in front a large modern looking spa, despite it was in the heart of Miami it was surrounded by swaying palms and green grass and Punk thought the parking lot looked like a beach complete with sand and everything.
"In case you needed to come back and ruin things again?" Nikki asked, "I wasn't really one for a repeat, back then I wouldn't even fuck the same guy twice."
"You gotta fuck them twice to even figure out a rhythm," Punk said as Nikki hopped out first attempting to fix her long maxi dress he knew she had to be in dire straights to be completely covered on seventy degree day.
Punk stepped out of the town car holding Nikki's ostentatious as fuck purple purse which she didn't take from him when they were walking into the building, he rolled with it and put his sunglasses in it once they were inside, at least it didn't have come with an annoying puppy in it like her sister's. He knew she had granola bars and toasted almonds in there and there might even be some of those little Snickers bars if she didn't get hungry on the plane.
Punk knew from previous experience Nikki was pretty chatty during massages when they'd gotten them so he knew he was no doubt in for a long conversation while they both got hair pulled from places they'd rather not mention. Things with Nikki were easy the same way the were with Scott except with more groping and he was glad that she was around during this strange time in his life.
"My algebra teacher paid for my senior class trip to Europe because he felt guilty for checking me out," Nikki revealed as the waxer worked on her legs, "Brie always wondered where I got the money while she worked after school selling hotdogs."
"Are you still trying to get my first time out in the open?"
"Maybe a little but no," Nikki said, "I was telling you something slutty I did so you'd feel better about the slutty thing you did."
"It makes me feel creeped out for you," Punk said, "was he old?"
"Not really," Nikki said, "he was mid-forties with a rocking bod like Dylan McDermott or some other aging actor."
"Okay now I'm envious," Punk grinned.
"AHA! So your first time was with an older man," Nikki said.
"Not saying anything," Punk said with a grin.
When they left the spa for the shopping center, Punk was still holding Nikki's purse and he was feeling less like a werewolf.
"Still feeling guilty?" Nikki touched his knee once they were in the town car.
"Yes," he said, "it's not even the worst thing I've done. I mean I cheated on people I've dated numerous times the fun part is always when they found out."
"It's best to make it public so you can revel in the discontent around you," Nikki agreed.
"I liked the private ones too, there's no denial to save face, it's straight to the ugly cry," Punk said, "I didn't mean for things to go this way, I had a plan a definite plan that would have made me rich and famous and Scott would be holding the World Title right now."
"So you're feeling double guilty because you were gonna make Vince your next target but you fell for him chickened out and he forced you go straight," Nikki said, "pun definitely intended on that one."
"You're not surprised?"
"Nope," Nikki said, "just shocked that your plans of world domination didn't include me."
"Well we didn't meet for awhile after I went straight," Punk said with a grin.
"I wish you would have went straight," Nikki said, "fucking you is on my bucket list."
"Is banging me seriously on your bucket list?"
"Yep," Nikki said, "I bet you fuck like lightening, and I think you'd let me fuck you with big Ben."
"That weird dildo I found your purse?" Punk asked.
"Yeah, he's always there when I'm in a pinch," Nikki said, "you can try him out one day. Might be the closest we ever get to legitimately fucking, I fear dear Punkers we don't have any sexual chemistry."
Punk laughed with her, "I don't think we do either. Which is good, because I don't think I could juggle fucking my best friends having a full time job and having a boyfriend."
"All work and no play makes Punk a dull boy," Nikki laughed.
"I kind of think I've played enough the past two weeks to make up for not getting any all last year," Punk pointed out, "no one was interested in me at all last year unless you count the one time Vince fucked me in his limo during the HOF ceremony last year."
"While you were getting slutty last year at the HOF, I totally went down on HBK!" Nikki said squealing excitedly.
"What did Hunter have to say about it?" Punk raised an eyebrow.
"I figured it would be okay, because Stephanie told me and Brie to make ourselves available to the old timers and show them a good night," Nikki said.
"Not sure if that's what she meant," Punk laughed.
"She winked," Nikki said, "and you should have heard the way she said show them a good night. It had a lot of suggestion and shoulder in it."
Punk shrugged, "What did Brie end up doing?"
"Nothing, she was in the flirting stage with Bryan, so they kinda stalked Bret Hart most of the night," Nikki said.
"Really?" Punk said.
"You secretly think it's lame don't you?" Nikki said.
Vince was waiting for them at the square's most expensive looking restaurant wearing a crisp designer suit, and sunglasses looking completely inaccessible and so handsome, just the way he liked him. When his eyes settled on them a slow smile spread across his face and it made Punk put an extra swivel in hips as he walked. He was thankful he'd changed after getting waxed, he had a feeling Vince would pick the fanciest restaurant and not to mention his sexy walk wouldn't have been as sexy in basketball shorts.
"How was it at the spa?" Vince asked once they'd sat down.
"Fun getting hair ripped out, and they fixed the imaginary thing with Nikki's eyebrows," Punk said.
"The left one was off center," Vince said.
"I told you!" Nikki said, "least that didn't happen with my tits, that would have been quite the fuck up."
They burst out in rowdy laughter, the waiter appeared then with drink orders, Vince had taken the liberty of ordering for them. Punk had Pepsi while Vince and Nikki had iced tea.
"So, which shops have you decided to go to?" Vince asked.
"We're going to the comic books store," Nikki said, "then I'm taking him to that place I like and we're getting some more jeans."
"Like those?" Vince glanced down at Punk's thighs.
"Yes," Punk said, "I found that I kind of like them."
"You should get some suits too," Vince said, "When we get to we'll have the tailor make you something we have a red carpet to attend."
"You want me on the red carpet with you?" Punk asked.
"Of course," he said, "we'll bring Nikki along to keep people guessing."
"Do I get a dress?" Nikki asked.
"Of course," Vince said.
Punk was sure Vince had completely won Nikki over by now, but he was sure the inner skeptic of a best friend was still under there somewhere.
Vince ordered steak, and Nikki got chicken wings and a house salad, while Punk got a vegetarian dish he couldn't pronounce. He picked at the grilled asparagus envious yet again of Nikki who seemed to eat whatever she wanted but if he wanted to continue wearing his tight jeans he was going to have to watch what he ate.
"You're having some dessert Punk?" Nikki asked.
"No," he said, "I'm full."
"You barely ate anything," Nikki said.
"I ate enough," he said, "big breakfast."
"C'mon Punky Pal split the brownie bits with me," Nikki said.
"Sure," he said, deciding to agree with her if he ate a few bites she'd feel better about having dessert he happened to be quite well versed in girl code, having dealt with his sisters.
After lunch Vince excused himself to make some calls, and handed over his platinum card Nikki dragged Punk into a trendy boutique that was populated by teenage hipsters, and the clothing wasn't separated by gender, which made him feel little less funny about trying on women's jeans.
Twenty minutes later, Nikki was holding a silk button down begging him to try it on.
"Nice try Nikster, but that's just not my style," Punk said.
"Please," Nikki cooed following him back inside the dressing room.
"I got what I needed… jeans," Punk said, "I've got shirts. I'm not wearing that."
"Fair enough," she said, "but it's so cute and pastel."
"Buy it for yourself," Punk told her.
"I don't look good in lavender," she said.
"They have it in coral," he said, "you like coral, you bought the plunging neckline boob dress you wore to last year's HOF."
"You remember the Slutty Boob Dress?" Nikki cooed clapping her hands, "I'm finally famous!"
"It was the talk of the locker room for weeks," Punk said laughing, "it was all Matt could talk about it, he went around telling absolutely everyone that he totally saw your nipples."
"I'll just buy it in lavender for Scott and in coral for me!" Nikki squealed excitedly.
"Checkout?" he asked.
"Checking out!" Nikki said picking up the two sundresses and the two shirts she'd picked out one in a small and the other in a large.
"That's going to be too small for him," Punk mused, "he's going to raise his arms and break the sleeve."
"It stretches at the sleeve," Nikki said triumphantly presenting the card once Punk had placed his jeans on the counter pile with the things she'd picked out.
Punk followed Nikki who was already striding out of the store laughing, they found Vince in the courtyard, and the three of them headed to the waiting town car and then to the airport to board Vince's private jet. Punk suddenly felt leaden, he was going to have to see John tonight and interact with him for a stupid bit backstage that Vickie had come up with. How was he going to do this? He had changed, he wasn't the same person who relished situations like this, he felt like he was being torn in half the closer the plane got to the Tampa the more he wanted to parachute to the ground and bail. Cutting and running was his specialty after all and jumping out of a plane would be a pretty bad ass way to be a chicken shit.
He was going to stay on the plane, keep pretending he was sleeping while Vince watched him, he was going to be cordial and friendly with John and forget last night ever happened with any luck John already had. He was going to keep his wits about him and his legs closed, half the battle was not to be alone with John and Nikki had already agreed to run interference, so that was totally taken care of, and when he was in the locker room he'd stick with Kofi who was a professional cock block.
The plane touched down in Tampa, it happened a lot quicker than Punk hoped, and suddenly it was time to deal with things all over again, due to their late start it would be straight to the arena. Which only sped up the time that separated Punk from John. There was no way in hell he was going to play this cool he had to come clean he'd do it after the show, and if Vince decided it was over it'd be fine, it'd be what he deserved.
"You're quiet," Vince said giving Punk a nudge once they were in the limo on the way to the arena, "Are you feeling okay?"
"I'm fine," Punk said.
"You're shaking," Nikki said, "We're going to take a walk to the trainers."
"I'll come with you," Vince said.
"You've probably got important stuff to do," Punk said, "I'll be fine, sometimes my nerves get to me."
"There is nothing more important to me than to look out for you," Vince said.
Punk blushed he really felt awful, "You're really sweet, but I don't want to keep you away from work when it's probably nothing but nerves."
"You've probably heard something from the loose lips in Creative," Vince said, "I wanted it to be a surprise, you're not only Cena's TV program you'll take the title off him soon."
"Oh God," Nikki said loudly, Punk glanced over at her she was genuinely shocked her jaw nearly on her lap.
Punk hadn't been expecting this, he thought he was just a placeholder until Randy proved that he was worthy to step up and take the title but that wasn't going to happen anytime soon, Randy was off the drugs and back onto the booze, either way he was performing like shit in the ring and nowhere near what the company wanted. Punk never thought he'd be the one they'd put the title on, not this time around even though he performed well night after nig-ht he didn't have the right look, hard work couldn't change genetics.
"Really," Punk said, "I didn't think…"
"I think you're the hardest worker around," Vince said as the limo came to a stop and the driver opened the door, "I know it everyone knows it. We'll give it a shot, see what the fans think, I bet they'll love you as much as I do."
Punk just stared at Vince like he'd never seen him before.
"You'd better go," Vince said, "since you won't let me come with you to the trainers, I still don't want the future WWE Champion getting sick."
"I must be getting sick because you just said everything I thought I'd never hear from you in three sentences," Punk said.
Vince smiled, "I mean every word you two should go I've got to go find Stephanie. Hunter tried to make things up to her and now she's stuck on the highway, he managed to get a flat tire because he doesn't know how to handle a Porsche."
"You should go to her," Punk said, "We'll talk later. I would do that thing I do when I say good bye but there's a line of fourteen year old fans trying to peek inside here."
"You can do that later, after we talk," Vince said.
Punk followed Nikki out the limo, and they were swarmed, young fans were asking for autographs.
"Do you think they'll ever wise up and make you champion?" a little boy asked Punk.
"I don't know," he said, "fingers crossed though."
The little boy nodded.
"Nikki," Punk started once they were inside.
"I can't believe that just happened," Nikki said dragging her rolling suitcase with her gear in it.
"Me either," Punk told her, "did he really just say he loved me and he wanted me to be champion?"
"I think so," Nikki said.
"I don't deserve it," Punk stopped to lean against the wall.
"You have worked very hard to get where you are, and I love John I do but he's only got five moves of doom and he looks like shit when he tries go up top," Nikki said, "you have a complete arsenal of moves you can do things he hasn't even thought of, there is no reason you shouldn't have had at least one turn as WWE Champ by now."
"Vince is so good to me and I've messed everything up," Punk said.
"We're going to find some place quiet, and I'm going to get ahold of Kofi and Scott and we're going to have a conference and put you back together," Nikki said before she dragged Punk and their luggage into the supply room all while texting.
Punk sat down on some crates and tried to control his breathing but he was having another panic attack.
"Just breathe Punk you'll be okay," Nikki said.
He complied.
"Breathe slower not faster," she told him before demonstrating as she sat on the floor in front of him in the small room.
A few seconds later the door opened revealing Kofi.
"Jeeze Punk what the fuck?" Kofi said.
"I'm fine," Punk said.
"You're hyperventilating," Nikki said, "What should we do?"
"He used to do this all the time," Kofi told her before turning his attention to Punk, "you need to relax and think about how ridiculous Nemeth looked at Halloween last year."
Punk's breathing returned to normal and he burst out laughing at the thought of the horrible Dracula costume.
"See all better," Kofi said, "You've got make him laugh sure he's going to be breathless after he finishes but when he gets his breath back it'll be normal."
"He's right here," Punk said once he was breathing normal once more.
"Okay so what's with the 911 was it just the panic attack?" Kofi asked.
"Vince told Punk he loved him and he was giving him the title soon," Nikki said, "we thought the program John and Punk were having was just filler until Randy cleaned up his act again."
"I thought his suspension was over and he was clean," Kofi said.
"Clean but not sober," Nikki said, "he's always drinking when it's not his work hours."
"He's actually pretty nice when he's drunk," Punk said, "he's a dick when he's sober, I'll cop to that but when he's drunk he's almost human."
"Did you sleep with Randy?" Nikki asked.
"Ew, no…" Punk said.
"I had to ask because you have that look," Nikki said.
"What look?"
"You totally have a look when talk about someone you're into," Kofi said.
"I am not into Randy! I have enough on my plate as it is, without aligning myself with that train wreck," Punk said, "even though I'm kind of a train wreck too."
"You're not a train wreck Punkers," he picked up Scott's voice but he knew his friend was far away. He glanced over at Nikki who had used Face Time to call him.
"I had sex with John last night," Punk revealed.
"I'm confused I thought you were dating Vince," Scott said.
"He is," Nikki said dryly.
Kofi grinned, "I was wondering what you were going to do to John to get even for him daring to bring a date out last night."
"You've got to come clean to Vince," Scott said, "it's the only way you're going to stop feeling down about yourself."
"I know, I'm going to tell him tonight," Punk said, "he'll probably scrap my title shot and take back what he said."
"You're going to have to choose too Punk," Kofi said, "Choose to be with Vince if he still wants a relationship once he finds out or choose to go to John."
"Or Randy," Nikki put in.
"Really?! Randy too?" Scott said shock evident in his voice, "Was it a threeway? Did you see it?"
"Okay," Nikki said turning the camera toward herself, "you are far too invested in your best friend's sex life to be just straight."
"I secretly ship Punk and Orton," Scott said a scarlet flush coloring his cheeks.
"We're going to have to talk about that," Nikki said, "when are you stateside?"
"End of the week," Scott said, "I got a text saying there be a ticket waiting for me, and I'll come out for the Rumble. Thanks guys."
"We didn't," Punk said.
"It was Vince," Nikki said confidently, "he's my new bestie. We bonded over old sex stories this morning."
"I know he was cool when he was in town last week but I don't trust that guy," Scott said, "and the fact that you kept the fact that he was the man you were seeing a secret for years. You deserve more than to be someone's dirty little secret."
"I'm not his dirty little secret anymore," Punk said with an easy smile when he thought about how wonderful Vince had been lately.
"That's because you wouldn't be his dirty secret anymore," Kofi reminded him, "he knew how badly he'd hurt you last time and he really had to pull out all the stops to get you back."
"I know," Punk whispered, "this isn't about Vince it should be about me and what I did last night."
"We've all done slutty stuff Punk," Nikki said.
"While you're in a relationship?" Punk asked.
"Yes," Nikki said.
"Really?" Scott asked.
"Yes," Nikki said, "I'm not a saint, I don't think any of us are going to be crowned with sainthood anytime soon."
"I've never cheated on anyone," Kofi said.
"You've been close," Punk whispered.
"That was the time I was rolling with it!" Kofi exclaimed.
"You're blaming me for that?" Punk asked.
"You were the one who started it!" Kofi said.
"Clearly, I have no self control," Punk said, "have you been paying attention?"
"He's back," Scott said from over the phone Punk could hear the smile in his voice.
"Feel better?" Nikki asked.
"Yeah," Punk said.
"You gonna tell us what happened the time Kofi was rolling with it?" Nikki asked.
"Nope," Punk said, grinning at the Ghanaian who had ducked his head, "sworn to secrecy."
"Thanks man, if that got out I'd have a lot to lose," Kofi said.
"It won't get out," Punk said, "you hold more than one of my secrets too and infact everyone in this room has a pretty big secret on me."
"More than one," Scott said.
"Quiet you," Punk said invoking rowdy laugh from his friend.
"Yeah, he's back," Nikki said excitedly before turning her attention to Punk, "did you remember who you were? Escape the depths of pessimistic reflection?"
"What I did isn't right," Punk said, "and I know that, I will tell Vince, I can't let this eat away at me."
"When are you going to tell him?" Nikki asked.
"Tonight," Punk said, "I'll tell him at the hotel. I know just how to do it, it we were at the condo I would cook. Then I would proceed to give him the best night of his life. Then if he chooses to leave he'll know exactly what he's left behind."
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Scott asked.
"I don't know even though break up sex before the break up is the best sex," Nikki said.
"I don't think it's a good idea either," Kofi said, "that's the last thing you need to do. Especially if you're so convinced he will leave you. You'll owe a victory to him."
"It is not like loosing a match to him or something," Punk said.
"A relationship is like that," Kofi said, "it's all about momentum, and you're giving him too much for free."
"Really?" Punk asked looking to Nikki.
"I'm afraid so," she said.
"I agree," Scott said, "you can do it after you tell him maybe, so that it won't be like you're giving it away. It'll be like a goodbye or a hello depending on what he decides."
"You're right," Punk realized.
"Alright then, meeting adjourned, bye," Nikki said hanging up the phone after blowing a kiss to Scott.
John was making his way into the arena when he saw and Nikki exiting a supply closet he ran to catch up with her.
"Where were you last night?" he asked.
"I know where you were," she gave him a slightly disapproving looking before bursting out laughing.
"I take it you were with Punk," John said, "how is he? Where is he?"
"He's hanging out with Kofi," Nikki said, "and he's fine. Do you remember what happened last night?"
"Yes!" John said his cheeks turning crimson, "I wasn't that drunk I had been sobering myself up for a while when he found me."
Nikki stopped and faced John, "Do you care about him at all?"
"Of course, I love him," John said.
"Please stay away from him for awhile," Nikki said.
"I don't think I can do that," John said, "you don't know what it's like to want something you can't have and then you finally get it and you can't have it then."
"I do," she said, "a whole hell of a lot better than you think. You have to repsect the fact that Punk is a person he isn't some title you're chasing, he has feelings real feelings."
"And some of them are for me," John said, "I won't give up on him."
"I'm not asking you to," Nikki said, "Give him a little space. Don't be cold and then don't be all suffocating when you're around him, don't be weird either. Treat him like a friend."
"I'll invite him to my place for a game of pool," John grinned dimples popping.
"Please John," Nikki said, "I'm begging you. I'm afraid he's going to get hurt."
John had never seen Nikki this serious before, it unnerved him.
"No one wants Punk happy more than I do," John said, "I'd never hurt him."
"No, not intentionally," Nikki said, "but I think you already have."
"Nobody wants to see Punk happy more than I do," John said, "I think he'd be happier with me."
"I don't think you are the one who should have that choice nor do I believe you should make him chose," Nikki said, "he needs to come to it all on his own. Don't push John, I know you don't know how to not push for something you want but don't push this time. Vince is pushing him too, and I think he might break with the pressure he's getting from both sides, and not to mention whatever in the hell is going on with him and Randy."
"Randy? How'd he get involved?" John said annoyed at the mention of the third generation wrestler.
"It's a long story," Nikki said blushing, "and I said not to mention it, I'm babbling, forget I said anything."
John grabbed her arm, "Tell me."
"There is nothing to tell," Nikki said, "I need you to do this for me John. I need you to be his friend don't push him please."
With that she was gone. He'd never seen Nikki like that something had happened he needed to talk to Punk and he needed to do it soon. He couldn't do in the ring with Punk and the New Nexus accosting him at every turn.
John stomped down the hallway lost in thoughts until he collided with another body.
"Watch it," came the hiss from the other.
John looked up to find Randy was the person he'd collided with.
"I'm so hung-over, when you mow me down, make sure you put me out of misery," Randy drawled.
"I think you drank all of the whiskey in the state of Florida," John said.
"Not enough to make me forget," Randy said.
"Is that why you're always drinking?" John asked before he could stop himself.
"Have you ever wanted something so bad but you knew that you'd only destroy it?" Randy asked, "so you burn down everything deliberately just so there is no possibility that you'd even get close to it, because you don't want to hurt it?"
"No," John said, though he was worried about the possibility that he was hurting Punk by pushing too hard but he knew he would be better for him in the long run, far better than Vince.
"That's because you're always the hero," Randy told him, "you're the one who swoops in thinks you can save the prince. And me I'm the villain, I'm not the one who ends up happy at the end of the story, I end up exiled."
"Don't you want to change that?" John asked, "the story hasn't ended yet, you could talk to Nemeth and make things right. Tell him how you feel."
Randy smiled viciously, "You think I have feelings for Nemeth?"
"You've been sleeping with him for who knows how long," John pointed out.
"We spend the night together but neither of us sleeps," Randy sneered, "I have no interest in him beyond that, and I'm sure he has no interest in me."
John was more confused than ever, but this chance meeting with Randy would allow him to say what he needed to say, "I think you should stay away from Punk."
"I'm not the one who who's making him cheat on his boyfriend," Randy said with a smirk, "I didn't ask him to help me last night, he just did."
"He told you about last night?" John asked.
"He didn't have to tell me," Randy fired back, "you did."
"Randy, you don't want to push me," John said.
"That's the only time you get interesting," Randy sneered, "I should go."
"You can't tell anyone about this Randy," John said.
"You have nothing to lose if this gets out," Randy said, "Vinnie Mac will dump Punk and he'll turn to you for comfort. That is what I call a win-win situation."
"But it would hurt a lot of people," John said.
"Do you really even care about that honestly?" Randy said, "I know what you want. What you've wanted for years and you're so close to having it and if I were to blow the whistle you'd have it. You don't care about the sham of a date you went on with Lloyd you don't care about Vince. So why are you playing the nice guy?"
"I am the nice guy," John said, "I do care about their feelings, just as much as I value Punk's."
"Keep telling yourself that," Randy said, "for now I'll keep your secret. It wouldn't benefit me at all to tell this secret."
"What do you want?"
"Feel free to sweat it out I'm going to the trainers, maybe I can get out of my match," Randy said, "but then no one will get to see how good I look in my trunks, I guess I'd better compete."
John rolled his eyes as Randy departed, Randy was selfish and vain, and he wondered what Randy would come up with in exchange for his silence. John went and hastily got ready for his match Punk was a few lockers away with Kofi and Bryan and gave him a nod in greeting when he arrived but it seemed Punk was very well guarded and Kofi kept giving him go to hell looks while Bryan looked confused Brie had probably put him on security detail and not told him why.
He left them behind in the locker room recounting their favorite skits from Saturday Night Live and went to guerilla Lloyd was there, with Truth and a few of the other guys, so John found himself an empty hallway and sat on some crates.
"Hey," John turned at the sound of Punk's voice startled that the man would seek him out.
"Can we talk?" Punk asked, standing nervously, clad in his ring gear which made John a little distracted by the expanse of the man's smooth thighs on display.
John just stared before he tried to shake his head to clear the cobwebs.
"Don't shut me out I had to fake going to the trainers to ditch them, I mean they mean well but ever since this afternoon I've had a bodyguard and quite frankly I'm sick of it," Punk said.
"I'm sorry about last night I shouldn't have let things escalate between us," John said.
"I'm not," Punk said, "I might be later when I tell Vince what happened. I just wanted you to know that I'm going to tell him. I don't know what is going to happen after I do but I was giving you the heads up."
"Punk!" Bryan called, "I know you didn't go to the trainers, so you might as well come on out or I'll have to face the wrath of Brie. She told me to keep an eye on you and if I don't they'll be consequences and I don't want to be on the wrong side of the handcuffs."
Bryan found them easily he was dressed in sweat pants and John was sure Bryan was wearing his trunks underneath them.
"Hey John," Bryan said, "why are you two hiding out back here? Is it a secret? Like why I'm supposed to watch Punk?"
"No, it's not a secret I had to tell John something, that is all," Punk said, "Brie didn't tell you why she wanted you to keep an eye on me?"
"Nope," Bryan said, "she said it's best if there were some things I didn't know about to keep me from forming negative opinions about my friends."
"John and I had sex last night, and I'm with Vince," Punk explained bluntly as only he could, "I cheated and everyone is trying to stop me from doing it again, because I think I've grown an even larger conscience and I was nearly suffocated by my own guilt this morning."
"Oh wow," Bryan said, "we'd better get out of here."
"I'm not going to jump him right here," Punk said.
"I'd hope you wouldn't," Bryan said, "It's just that I hear stilettos, it's the girls, if it gets back to Brie that I had you even this close to John she's going to nail me to the wall or worse she'll stop talking to me for days."
Punk rolled his eyes, "Just wanted to give you the heads up."
Bryan then yanked Punk away before John could even say much of anything. A sense of dread filled him, Vince was known for being extremely jealous, John was sure his time with the company could be at it's end. He'd been fired a couple of times before and rehired when the fan backlash got to be too much.
He could hardly focus on his match for thinking about what might happen. Nikki came to him after it was over dressed in her ring gear though he knew she didn't have a match tonight.
"Are you okay? You were like shit out there," Nikki told him.
"Thanks," John said, "I was hoping no one would notice."
"Stevie Wonder probably noticed," Nikki said dryly.
"I didn't know he was here tonight," John said.
"He's not, ugh, you're bad at this banter thing," Nikki said, "what's on your mind?"
"Punk told me he was going to tell Vince," John said, "about what happened between us last night."
"He did? He was on total lock down," Nikki said, "that was my master plan I've even got the Matts to hang out with him in the shower."
"He's not stupid," John said, "he snuck away and found me, I was hiding out."
"Did you…" Nikki made a crude gesture by making a circle with her index finger and thumb of her left hand and thrusting the index finger of her right hand through it.
"No!" John said turning beet red, "Bryan came in a second later I'm sure if we'd been going at it he would have had a heart attack on the spot."
Nikki snickered, "If it were me I'd be quietly filming."
"Nikki!" John said.
"For my private collection," Nikki explained, "of course."
"Of course," John said simply.
"Let's go to catering and talk about people," Nikki said.
John conceded to do so, most of the time Nikki people watched and then sniped about them waiting for John to offer input which he did not.
"Aren't you gonna do one? There's Slater over there fixing his hair, he's just begging to be made fun of just a little."
"Do I ever take part in this activity?"
"You laugh more when I do it," Nikki pouted.
"Where's Nikki?" Vince asked.
"She's got a room downstairs," Punk said as he followed Vince into the hotel suite.
"I've arranged dinner for us," Punk told him.
"Good," Vince said.
"I would have cooked for us, but we're in a hotel," Punk pointed out.
"You can cook for me anytime," Vince told him before he pulled Punk close and kissed him, "are you sure you're okay? You've been different today a little jumpy."
Punk was about to answer but dinner arrived, they ate recounting their favorite moments up of the night, and Vince shared his excitement about the Rumble.
"I made a deal with the devil," Vince said, "Mike shouldn't be champ, I know that but Randy needed to learn a hard lesson."
"He left the belt at the arena a couple weeks ago and John kept it for a few days out of habit," Punk snickered before turning serious, "I don't know if Randy is learning his lesson. I don't think he cares about the business anymore."
"Since when do you and Randy talk?"
"We don't," Punk said putting his fork down, "I'm just telling you what I noticed."
"I'll keep an eye out," Vince said, "he was filling himself with a thousand shots last night shut down not talking to anyone even John."
Punk nodded, barely picking at his food dreading the turn the conversation would take after dinner.
"Why don't we go to bed early?" Vince asked rising from the table.
"We should talk first," Punk bit his lip.
"Are you saying you want more abysmal small talk or is this a we need to talk kind of talk?" Vince asked changing direction and heading into the small living space.
"It's a we need to talk kind of talk," Punk said.
Vince sat on the arm of the couch and Punk sat across from him on the small coffee table, "Alright. Let's hear it."
"Okay…" Punk said rubbing his palms together.
"You know you can tell me anything and it'll be okay," Vince said, "did you secretly marry Maria in a dark ceremony preformed in a cemetery?"
"No," Punk laughed, "I didn't not. Glenn was bad for telling you that rumor."
"Were you once a woman?" Vince laughed.
"I think you know the answer to that one," Punk said, "it's about last night."
Vince sighed nodding his head, "You had sex with John."
"What? How did you know that?" Punk sputtered.
"Phillip, there's nothing that goes on with you that I don't know about," Vince said, "not to mention you and your friends were pretty chatty in that supply room when I was passing by."
"You knew…" Punk breathed.
"Yes," Vince said.
"I was going to tell you, I felt so horrible, you've been so good to me and then I go and do that," Punk said.
"It's okay," Vince said.
"It's not; you should hate me," Punk said.
"You're confused, you've got two sometimes three men after you and you're being pulled in every direction," Vince said, "I understand that."
"I am a whore," Punk said.
"You are not," Vince said, "I believe you care about both of us and you're confused. You asked me to talk to you about what I was feeling and not fly off in jealous rage, I waited for you to come to me and tell me what had happened and you did."
"I'm sorry," Punk said.
"It happens," Vince said.
"Not to me," Punk said he was crying now and completely aware of it, "I wanted to tell you last night but I just couldn't…"
"Don't say it Phillip," Vince shut his eyes, "so is your decision already made? Is this why you're telling me? To let me down easy?"
"What?" Punk asked, "no…"
"You're not running to John?" Vince asked.
"No," Punk said, "why would you think that?"
"You had sex with him, while you were on a date with me," Vince said, "he might not be the sharpest tool in the shed but he's probably got that going for him."
"This isn't about the sex Vince!"
"What is it about enlighten me Phillip?" Vince said.
"I don't know," Punk said.
"You do know you just don't want to say it to spare my feelings!" Vince shouted hopping up from the couch and striding away.
"That's not true and you know it," Punk said following him.
"Well then tell me," Vince said, "instead of standing there crying. Tell me what you really want. Is it me or him?"
"I have loved you for the better part of six years," Punk said hastily wiping his tears away, "if things with us had been as good as they are now the first time around I wouldn't have even started hanging out with John. I wouldn't have gotten to know him and I wouldn't have fallen for him too. I wouldn't be this confused."
"So you're blaming me for you cheating on me?"
"No," Punk said, "I am not but how this has all happened it's crazy, and I can't help how I feel. I love you but I love him too, and last night I forgot what I was doing and I gave in to what I felt. I'm a master of self control, but last night I didn't feel like myself. If you want me to leave that's fine. I'll go."
"I don't want you to leave!" Vince shouted turning around, "you could walk all over me break my heart a thousand times and I wouldn't want you to leave! I just don't know how to make you stay!"
"You don't have to make me stay," Punk said, "I want to be with you."
"Why did you fuck him?"
"I don't know," Punk said sighing, "do you think we can move past this?"
"Do you think you're going to stop wanting John?"
"I…"
Vince shook his head, "It's no good."
"What?"
"You're going to cheat again and we'll be right back here," Vince said, "and I've no reason to be upset because I'd be a hypocrite."
Vince tried to smile and he reached out for Punk who let him take his hand.
"I love you more than I thought I was capable of," Vince told him, "I can't stand the thought of someone else touching you. I can't stand the thought that you'd leave me. It scares me to lose you again, it was okay before because you didn't really move on."
"I dated Amy," Punk shrugged.
"Amy is a girl," Vince pointed out, "it doesn't count. Because when it comes down to it, you'll probably marry a man. A man like John, someone honest and up front who had the courage to divorce his wife, not someone who uses her for a billion dollar beard."
Punk nodded, "It doesn't change the fact that I chose you, it's you've I have wanted for all this time."
Vince pulled him close, "I do love you."
"I love you too," Punk whispered.
"But I think you need your space," Vince said, "we won't be rigidly exclusive. I don't want you to feel badly if you spend time with John or even if you have physical encounters with him. So long as you're honest."
"Vince that will never work," Punk said, "you're making it feel like it's okay what I did. You should be angry you should yell more."
"Are you expecting to be punished Phillip?" Vince said, "I am trying to make this work."
"What I did was wrong," Punk told him.
"But you can't say you won't do it again," Vince said, "I want to make things easier on us."
"It shouldn't be easy," Punk said, "you shouldn't just let me sweep this under the rug. I should be able to say I won't do it again."
"Call Cena we need to talk, the three of us," Vince said.
Punk wiped his tears and did what he was asked.
"Hey, John, this is Punk," he said once the call connected and John had answered, "could you come over,? I'd like to talk to you. Vince would like to talk with you to as well. Can you come to our suite, its 7728."
John agreed to come, and a few minutes later a knock sounded on the door, Vince opened it and invited him in the tension was thick Punk was sitting with his legs crossed on the floor rocking back and forth. He'd done his best to wipe away his tears but he couldn't find it in him to smile.
"What's going on?" John noticed Punk's position on the floor.
"We need to talk," Vince sighed, "the three of us."
"He told you?"
"He didn't have to," Vince said dryly, "You don't think I wouldn't have known that you put your hands all over him?"
"It wasn't like that," John explained, "I'm in love with him."
"I am too," Vince said, "and I have been for years, I was afraid to tell him that it would give him all the power, and the truth was he had all the power all along. When he walked away it broke me, and then I found out that he'd been spending all his time with you and Nicole I had to do something or lose him forever. I'm just a man trying to hold on to who he loves."
Punk froze, "You loved me all this time?"
"Yes, Phillip," Vince said, "I know I didn't treat you the way I should have before, and I'm going to now, which is why I am doing this."
"So what happens now?" Punk whispered.
"That's up to you," Vince said, "we're going to pull back for right now, both myself and John and give you your space. You can go on dates with both of us spend time with us, but no sex, not until we have definitive answer or we'll be back where we started."
"I can date both of you? Punk said.
"Or you can spend time with us as friends," Vince offered, "nothing beyond a hug. I'll know, you do some damn funny things when you feel guilty. I can always tell when you feel you've done something wrong. You're so much harder on yourself than anyone else would be."
"What about spending the night, in a non sexual capacity?" Punk asked he didn't want to be alone at night anymore.
"You'll be with Nikki," Vince said, "I moved too fast with you, and you didn't have a chance to decide whether you wanted a future with me or with John."
"You're not angry with me?"
"No, baby, I don't want you to ever think I'm angry with you," Vince stood in front of Punk and reached out a hand to him Punk took it and he pulled him to his feet, "You don't let everyone in and when you open yourself up to love someone it's beautiful, and as much as I hate to share I know how special it is when you let your guard down, and how sexual you are I just don't think it could be avoided."
"Is kissing allowed?" John asked quietly, Punk was sure John wasn't going to go along with this that he'd make a big stink.
Vince paused to think, "I don't think I could do with out kissing him either. Kissing is fine, only on the neck and lips. Leave his ears alone it gets him too hot. He'll be on you before you can get him ready."
Punk blushed, "How long is this arrangement to last?"
"Until you make your choice," Vince said.
"No sex with either of you till I make my decision?" Punk asked genuinely disappointed.
"We refuse to put out," John said grinning, "we're not going to go back to the way things were. I want you to make choice. A definitive one."
"Agreed," Vince said.
"Alright," Punk said.
"Give me a kiss and let John walk you down to Nikki's room," Vince said.
Punk pressed close to Vince and put his arms around the man's broad shoulders, "I love you."
Vince kissed him, so long that Punk knew John had to be uncomfortable watching, when he pulled away Punk was blushing.
"I love you too Phillip, good night, I'll see you in the morning, we'll have lunch alright?" Vince asked.
"Good night," Punk said, "I'll see you for lunch."
Vince kissed him again.
"I love you," Punk said before he left with John.
"That was interesting," John said.
"I thought for sure that he would leave me when he found out," Punk said, "But this is weird, right?"
"No weirder than anything else Vince has ever done," John shrugged, "besides it gives me a chance to be with you to prove that I could do right by you."
"I just jumped right into thing with Vince and never gave us a chance," Punk told John, "neither relationship feels finished. This is good except the no sex thing is gonna suck. I basically have two boyfriends and I won't be getting laid."
"You'll get laid all you can stand once you make your choice," John said leading them into the elevator smiling dimples on full display, "especially if you choose me."
"You know where Nikki's room is or do I need to text her?" Punk asked blushingly avoiding the subject and John's eyes.
"I was actually with her when you called me," John smiled she'll probably be pacing the hallway waiting for details the only reason she didn't follow me up was because she got caught up with Brie who was asking her advice over something."
Sure enough when they stepped off the elevator Nikki was there in a flash. She was wearing her more conservative pajamas which as one of John's shirts that hung on her frame and a pair of flip flops her hair was still wet from the shower.
John made to speak and Nikki just threw up her hand, he ignored her, and touched Punk's shoulder forcing him to meet his eyes.
"Goodnight," John whispered before giving him a quick peck on the cheek, "I'll come by and we'll go to breakfast."
Nikki hissed at John and pulled Punk into the open hotel room.