They arrive early afternoon on Tuesday, both men wiped out. Neither had slept well the night before, Mike restlessly tossing and turning in his bed, and Alex... well, Alex just couldn't stop pondering how easily his victory against Dolph had been ignored- it had barely been addressed this week, and he's sure by next week it'll be all but forgotten. He hates it- his one moment, his one chance, he had won and it still accounted to nothing.
But arriving in LA helps, a little. One look at the pale blue sky and faint smell of salty ocean in the air and his troubles slowly melt away. Mike drives and they both take in the sights, their individual exhaustion leading to a quiet ride through the congested highways and roads. Alex hadn't been here in months, and it's been quite awhile for Mike too, he'd been so busy with touring and the movie, so it's almost like they're seeing it all over again for the first time.
When they pull up in front of John's apartment, he's actually sitting on the front steps of his building, taking in the sun. "You waiting for us?" Mike yells out to him, the first words he's spoken since they've actually gotten off of the plane and it startles Alex until he too looks out and spots the third member of their trio.
"No, what gives you that idea?!" he calls back, standing up and joining them in the parking lot, slapping Alex on the shoulder as he goes by to get the bags out of the trunk. "Hey, man."
"Hey, John." He and Mike end up shouldering each other a couple of times, jokingly fighting over who will get at their bags first before Alex steps back, hands held up in surrender.
Morrison rolls his eyes before joining them, dropping an arm over each of their shoulders. "So, by the looks of you both, I'd say the first thing you will want to do is... Uhh, sleep?"
Mike makes a face, shrugging him off before turning to analyze Alex. "We really look that bad?"
"Worse," John cracks, smiling innocently when they both glare at him. "Easy, easy. Your choice- you can catch some sleep in my apartment, or change and conk out on the beach. What will it be?"
They had both been cooped up in hotel rooms, locker rooms, and planes for the past couple of weeks pretty much nonstop, so it's almost a no-brainer, their eyes locking. "Beach!"
"I'll try not to dump too much sand on you," John mutters as he leads them inside to drop off their things.
They're sprawled out on the beach, a ridiculously sized umbrella blocking most of the sun's rays from their bodies, when first Mike's phone squawks "AWESOME!", I Came To Play immediately following it, just for Alex's to proceed with Say it to my Face immediately afterwards. Both men groan and stir, Mike almost rolling off of the beach towel into the sand as he flounders for his phone, half asleep and very disoriented at the double shot of Downstait. "Hello?" both say at once, Mike awkwardly making it to his feet and stumbling off so he can hear easier. "Ok... yeah, sure," Alex sighs into his phone, flopping back against the cool towel as he ends the call, shutting his eyes. "Dammit."
"What was that?" John asks, rejoining them while shaking some water from his hair after giving up on surfing upon noticing they're both up. "WWE?"
"Of course," Mike grouses. "I have a match on Smackdown. So much for spending the rest of the week in LA."
Alex grimaces. "I can do you one better, I have a match on Superstars."
"Well, crap."
With time now slipping through their fingers, they head back to John's apartment. They only stay long enough to grab a couple of things and they're back on the beach, a huge box between them as they lug it over to the very same cove they had used the year before for this very purpose. "You better have gotten the good stuff, Morrison," Miz warns him, barely waiting for them to put it down before he's digging into the contents.
"What do you take me for?" he scoffs, pushing Mike over into the sand and away from the box. As Alex rolls his eyes and laughs at them, they both look through the fireworks while Mike furiously shakes silt and who-knows-what else from his hair.
"Wow," Alex breathes as he looks at all of it.
"Well, I have A-Ry's approval. Now what about you, O Awesome One?" Before Mike can even attempt to get payback by pushing him over, John steps aside and lets him at the box, smirking when a look of awe overtakes his face.
"Holy crap, John, what'd you do, raid a whole fireworks' manufacturer?" His eyes gleam. "C'mon, boys, we've got some explosions to set up."
It's illegal, most of the fireworks they have set out, but they'd all agreed last year, and it seems to have held up in spades this year- if you're going to do it, better do it big or not at all. Once the box is empty they all stand around waiting for the sun to finish going down, John content to absorb what remains of the warmth as the water licks at his toes, the other two higher up in the beach, waiting to set off the first couple of waiting rockets.
At 9:15, it's finally dark enough that Mike grabs his lighter bought purposely for this and lights the first one, stepping back to stand with the others as the fuse grows smaller and smaller, finally shooting the firework into the dark sky, the loud bang and brilliant flash that follows making them all grin. Alex takes his turn, and then Morrison, and they keep shooting them off for the next half an hour until all of the fireworks are shot off, the sky smokey and their ears ringing from the noise accompanying each one. "Well, it's a month and a half late," John says, "but was it a good replacement for missing July 4th here?"
"Yeah, it'll do," he grins, smirking over at them as they both roll their eyes at him. "Now which of you are doing cleanup?" He almost can't complain when they work together, each grabbing him by an arm and tossing him into the surf, well aware that he's deserved that one.
Wednesday is spent lounging yet again on the beach in the morning and afternoon, until it's time for Morrison's standup comedy show. Alex sighs, thinking that perhaps he could move here. Florida's home, but there's just something about LA. And both Miz and Morrison living here is just even more encouragement to at least consider it... He doesn't say it outloud, but he does tweet about it, and when Mike checks his phone and coughs, obviously just reading the recently sent tweet, all Alex can do is grin a little. You never know, he shrugs, leaning back against the towel and relaxing. "I'm gonna go swim," Mike finally says, frustrated at his former protege for not explaining himself.
"Alright," Alex says, too comfortable to even consider getting up. That is, until two bucketfuls of water is splashed across his chest, leaving him floundering and gasping. "Holy crap!" he cries out, quickly on his feet and after the laughing former Dirt Sheet hosts, chasing them far into the ocean.
"You might rethink thinking about moving here by the time we're done," John says, his eyes still bright with laughter as they stand a few feet apart in the water, Mike trying to hide from Alex by staying underwater as long as he can. When he finally resurfaces, Alex is waiting, dunking him back under. "Or maybe not- living here means you get to torture Mike more."
Alex just grins, finally letting his NXT pro back up for some air, barely disturbed by his glowering and sputtering. After a few more hours at the beach, they all go back to Morrison's apartment to get ready for the stand up comedy show. Alex has to leave early the next morning to make it to Superstars, so he packs what he's not wearing at the moment and sets the bag out by the door so he won't have to do much before the flight, nor make a lot of noise and risk waking these two up.
"You know, he's doing another one on Saturday, I guess. A bunch of the boys are going to be there. Maybe we should go too... and, if I'm feeling generous, actually buy the tickets this time," Mike suggests as they're driving over in his car, John having left for it before them to prepare.
Alex laughs, trying not to focus too much on his upcoming match. He's not ready to give up being relaxed or having fun, just yet. "Sure, why not."
Two and O. He stares around at the Superstars crowd and just laughs. He's actually on a roll! First Ziggler, now McIntyre. And this was a legit victory, no one could say it was a fluke. He's just made it backstage when he hears his phone ringing, Mike's name flashing. "Hey," he greets him, still trying to catch his breath, rehydrate, all of that fun post-match stuff.
"Hey, congrats on another win," Mike says through a small bit of rustling in the background as Alex grins.
"Yeah, man, congrats- I think if you keep facing former rivals of mine, you might keep up a nice little winning streak for yourself," John cuts into their conversation, Alex only grinning further as he thinks about the two of them crowded around a small cell phone on speakerphone.
"Oh, is that the trick to it all?" He laughs. "I'll keep that in mind." He towels off, taking a deep breath. "Well, it's obvious you all've missed me terribly and all but I'll be back in LA tomorrow for Axxess. Mike, you'll be back Saturday, right?"
"Yeah. Can you believe they're dragging me to Smackdown to team with Rhodes?" He groans. "But as always, I will make it awesome."
"Of course you will," John says dryly. "We'll be watching."
"You better be! I went to your stand up yesterday, it's the least you can do!"
"Oh please," John snickers. "I heard you, you were laughing harder than everyone else in the building."
"Sympathy laughs, John, sympathy laughs."
"Yeah, right." As the former tag team champions bicker amongst themselves, Alex only laughs, changing into street clothes so he can leave.
Alex thinks he and Mike's planes probably pass each other mid-flight, his coming and Mike's going, as he lands to find John still loitering around the airport, hands in his pockets and sunglasses on top of his head. "Long time no see," he greets him with a grin, slapping an arm around his shoulders and leading him to baggage claim. After grabbing his duffel, they're out, driving back to Morrison's apartment- and the beach. "I have some red tape to handle around here today, so feel free to make yourself at home... or go on out to the beach, whatever you want. I'll be done in a few hours and we'll take it from there, ok?"
Alex nods, somehow feeling strange. He hadn't really ever been to John's apartment without Mike there too, even though he and John were good enough friends just on their own... But every place feels a little odd without Mike's loud, boisterous attitude, his take no prisoners view of life. Those weeks he had been filming had been near torture for the younger man, though he'd never admitted it: the arenas, even with all of the people filling them, had just seemed empty, devoid of all energy.
He sighs and sinks into the couch, eyes already fluttering shut. Sleep is a rare commodity for most of them, all embracing it when they get the chance to just lay, stretch out somewhere that isn't a hotel, and rest. John's soft steps across the kitchen floor and rustling of papers become a bit of a soundtrack to his rest as he dozes, only coming to now and again, just to sink back into the warm embrace of peace.
He's not sure how long he's slept when John slaps him on the foot, smiling almost apologetically as Alex sits up with a jerk. "You're going to miss Smackdown... and supper," he teases slightly, sitting at his feet when he quickly scoots up to make room for his friend, running his fingers through his hair. "Get it while it's hot." He points to the plate of food on the coffee table, the smells immediately overwhelming Alex's still sleep-muddled mind.
"Best host ever," he mumbles, grabbing at the chicken and potato wedges waiting for him. "Mmm. Smackdown?" He blinks, looking up at the TV. John chuckles, unmuting it as he sits back with his own plate, full to the brim with vegetables and a turkey sandwich. They watch and eat quietly until Miz's match, which his team ultimately loses. "Well, that's sucky," he mumbles, his vocabulary taking a hit since he's still half-asleep.
"Yeah, hopefully it won't affect him on Sunday."
The call to Mike following this is much more sober than the call to Alex had been, all the Intercontinental champion willing to do is complain about Cody and Rey and everything else he can think of. John and Alex just listen quietly, letting him rage himself out until finally he falls silent, dropping onto a bench. "I won't lose this Sunday, I can't. This belt... it's the only thing that makes AJ Lee listen to me at all... I can't..."
John frowns, Alex too noting the tension in Mike's voice. "It's ok, Mike. Things will work out."
"No, you don't understand!" he yells. "I can't lose, John! It's the only chance I have to... to-" He cuts himself off, cursing under his breath and now both Alex and John are uneasy, not liking the way this conversation has gone. "Never mind," he snaps. "I ... will not lose this Sunday."
"Of course you won't, Mike," Alex says, trying to sound supportive. "You're going to hold that Intercontinental title for a really, really long time." As he waits for a response, he can't help but wonder what exactly is going on between AJ Lee and Miz, staring over at John. He'd love to tell Morrison, but if he's wrong, and whatever's going on between the two is something private, well... It's not his place to talk about his friend's business. He's not the gossiping type.
"Damn straight," he breathes, finally calming down slightly.
They're all too busy to hang out through the rest of the weekend, John still busy with preparing for various stand up comedy shows, and Mike and Alex both tied up with various autograph signings and Axxess responsibilities. To Alex's relief, on Sunday, Miz retains his Intercontinental Title after a solid, back and forth match with Rey, and he looks overjoyed as he walks back into the locker room, all tension hereby drained from his shoulders. "Congrats, Mike. I knew you could do it."
Mike grins. "Thanks, A-Ri. Hey, I have a couple of things to do... and then we'll go out and party, yeah?"
"Sure, man." When Mike leaves the locker room, Alex counts to five before following him stealthily, somehow unsurprised when he walks right to AJ Lee's office, only adding to the former NXT rookie's suspicions. "What are you up to, Mike?" he whispers before ducking away, not wanting to linger around long enough and get caught, risk ticking his friend off once more.
It's not the end of their meetings, however, Alex walking out of catering on Monday night in time to see AJ hanging on Mike's every word, her soft brown eyes locked on him as she leans into him. Holy crap, he thinks, ducking out of sight once more. They're talking too lowly for him to hear but he does catch the small smile on Mike's face as he leans forward and runs a finger across AJ's cheek, nodding at her.
"It'll be my pleasure," he overhears as Mike starts to walk away from her, her eyes following him. When it's announced that Mike and Daniel Bryan will tag team against Zack Ryder and Kane later on, Alex thinks some of it makes sense- but most of it still doesn't. When Mike abandons Daniel to Kane's wrath, which gets turned on an unfortunately out of it Zack, Alex wonders if that's what AJ had Mike do- and why. What are you doing, Mike? He's not one to worry about Mike, well aware that he is quite capable of taking care of himself, but AJ is so unstable... he can't help but feel uncomfortable for his friend.
This could end very badly.