It's hard to remember sometimes that the last year and a half has passed, Miz thinks blearily as he wakes up from a nap and finds Morrison driving the car he's slumped down in, the engine rumbling as wheels roll over the pavement the only soundtrack to this trip, Morrison's attempt at being thoughtful towards his sleeping companion. His thoughts race at this- previous travelmates he had had since breaking away from John had never bothered, content to play music or talk loudly on the cell phone even when it was obvious he was attempting sleep. He figures it was karma, so this is different. It's almost... nice.

They're not friends, far from it, tension still thick and part of the reason he had retreated into sleep in the first place but it's just so familiar that it feels weird not to be carrying some kind of tag belts or Slammies- he wonders where John might've put his after the abrupt dissolution of their team before shaking the thought from his mind- right now. Instead, the luggage holds his briefcase- which is a pain to get onto an airplane with security being as it is now-a-days- and his US title belt. A step up, he thinks, but it all seems so clinical, almost lonely, looking back at it. After years of having someone to celebrate wins and mourn losses with, he had been all alone for both big happenings in his career. His fingers twitch idly at his side and he gives up on the guize of sleep, straightening up in the passenger seat as Morrison shifts in response, glancing his way momentarily before turning his gaze back on the highway before him.

Neither say anything but Miz fumbles around, still uncoordinated from his brief but deep sleep, and pulls out a CD- one of Morrison's favorites, he remembers- from the small compartment on the dashboard that had been playing before he settled down for his nap and pushes it into the player, turning up the volume as the music begins. He can't help but feel pleased with himself as he spots Morrison's small smile in his peripheral vision.

The rest of the trip goes quietly and both men go their separate way as soon as they hit the arena- one thing they had agreed on was there was no need to push things, their relationship tenuous enough as it is. The show, after all, is hours away and they'll see each other then. For now, Miz needs to get caught up with his NXT Rookie and Morrison will probably find R Truth and do... whatever it is those two do before an event. He rolls his eyes before turning down a hallway. "Hey, Riley!" he calls, finding just the man he was looking for. As they head off to a locker room, discussing the match they've been put in that evening, Miz mentally sighs as things return to what's been normal lately- his chief worries being getting revenge on Daniel Bryan and showing Kaval who the better NXT Rookie is.

After the match, Miz is a little sore but he thinks the tag match could've gone worse- his agendas were fulfilled, after all. His team won and Daniel Bryan was knocked down a peg or two. Again. Riley is somewhere ahead of him, blending into the crowd of people shamelessly watching the diva match currently going on when he turns and finds Morrison watching him with an indescribable look on his face. "See that?" he calls out to him, riding high on adrenaline and cockiness. "Just do what Alex Riley did just now and those tag belts are ours with no problem."

John's face twists in annoyance but before he can say anything, Teddy Long of all people steps between them, an annoying grin on his face. "You think it's going to be that simple, playa? Look at the monitors."

Both men turn to watch as Cole heads for the laptop platform, yelling out to the audience for attention as he does .time. he gets an email. "Oh great," Morrison mumbles, brushing past Teddy and stepping up next to Miz so he can hear easier.

"By orders of the anonymous General Manager, there will be a number one contendership match for the tag titles next!" Cole announces. "The Miz and John Morrison vs Drew McIntyre and Cody Rhodes!"

As the formerly greatest tag team of the 21st century gaze at each other, varying degrees of aggravation and shock on their faces, Teddy chuckles and claps both men on the shoulder. "Good luck!" he calls out with a joyful little shuffle as he retreats, their glares turning to him.

"I hate surprises," Morrison grumbles.

"What the hell?" Miz all but yells, almost throwing his briefcase down. He's already wrestled once tonight- why should he have to do so again? Especially for something as vital as a chance at the tag titles, the one thing keeping him from cashing in his briefcase? He's almost vibrating in anger as they reluctantly turn back to the ring. As they wait for their separate entrances to start after the commercial break, he casts a weighing glance over at Morrison. They may not have teamed together in almost seventeen months but as far as he knows- since watching Smackdown is low on his list of priorities especially on Friday nights- Rhodes and McIntyre have only worked together for a few weeks and tag matches weren't a part of that. Add in that he knows enough about Rhodes and Morrison's wrestled McIntyre fairly often, he feels less tense about this.

Morrison starts the match off and it's going so-so when Cody takes a swing at Miz and knocks him off of the apron. For a moment, Miz sees red as he stares up blindly at the ring, anger from tonight, the last few weeks, everything suffuses every movement he makes. He's inside within seconds, ignoring John as he attacks Cody with wild punches and kicks, sending him into the corner. He notices as Drew enters and Morrison grabs him; within seconds, all four men are going at it with no rhyme or reason. Things break apart briefly when the ref gives up on order and the bell rings, distracting Rhodes enough that Miz punches him and sends him face first into the turnbuckle before slinging him thoughtlessly over the top rope.

He turns to locate Morrison just to find him on the other side of the ring about to get sent shoulder first into the steel turnbuckle. He's too far away to help but rushes forward anyway, trying to reach in time but- Morrison manages to get free and kicks McIntyre, sending him face first into the laptop stand. He rolls back into the ring and the two exchange glances, quickly gauging if the other's ok before separating to face McIntyre and Cody as they stagger out of the arena, the jeers of the audience a proper send off.

As soon as they're gone, Miz's aggravation returns and he kicks the bottom rope repeatedly, mumbling curse words that WWE management would frown over but he doesn't care. Morrison's hand on his shoulder grounds him, keeps him from doing anything else and he turns to stare at him, weariness and anger bleeding through his very pores. "What? We just lost our chance, dammit."

The audience seems to be holding their breath as the tentatively reformed tag team examine each other. John ignores everything around them, instead squeezing his shoulder quickly after a tense moment. "Come with me," he says simply, slipping out of the ring.

"What the-?" he grumbles, reluctantly following him up the ramp and to the back. The confused buzz of the audience would amuse him any other day; tonight it just grates at him. "What are you doing?" he demands, tired of following Morrison around as he heads down another hallway- his jaw drops a little as John stops in front of Teddy Long's office. "Oh, hell no. You make me go in there, I will do to him what I did to Daniel Bryan earlier."

Morrison turns and stares at him. "Look, you can stay in the hallway if you want but I am talking to him. His superstars cheapshotted you- I don't think Teddy will defend that, no matter what he thinks about brand loyalty."

Miz's fists clench around his briefcase handle but, after a few seconds of glaring into Morrison's earnest gaze, nods jerkily anyway. "Fine, but I don't trust him."

Morrison opens his mouth, looking like he's about to say something about trusting him but shuts it with a click, blinking. "That's fine, we don't need to trust him." Before Miz can say or do anything, he reaches up and knocks on the door.

"Come in!"

They both enter and John looks over in surprise. Miz shrugs and motions at him to carry on. "Teddy," he greets the Smackdown General Manager cordially. They had left things on good standings when he was drafted over, after all, and he has no problem with the older man- just his superstars.

"John! Good to see you, playa." He shakes his hand and smiles before he spots Miz lurking in the doorway, his lips twitching uncertainly. "What can I do for you?" Professional attitude back in full force, he stands against his desk and waits patiently.

"Did you see what McIntyre and Rhodes did just now?"

"Yes I did, I apologize for that. I had no idea they were going to do that." He does look sincerely regretful but Miz bristles anyway, biting his tongue almost hard enough to draw blood. Let Morrison handle this... let Morrison handle this...

"Well, Teddy, we have no way to talk with our own General Manager for obvious reasons," he says, cutting into Miz's thoughts. "I know this is kind of an odd request, you're not in control of what happens over here, but is there anything you can do?"

He looks back and forth between them, obviously thinking hard. "I'll see what I can do for you two. I can't make any promises but I'll try to work something out."

Morrison's face relaxes into a smile. "Thank you." He turns and raises an eyebrow at Miz. See? "It was nice seeing you again, Teddy."

"Good seeing you too, playa."

Miz slips out of the room as they trade farewells, rolling his eyes. His time on Smackdown was what had made Morrison soft and that little display just proves it. But he supposes it's better than nothing- there's a chance he may get another shot at the tag belts and that's good enough for him.

For now.