Miz's bad week only continues as he arrives at Smackdown that Friday to find Booker T waiting for him. He eyes the general manager distrustfully, chewing on the inside of his cheek as the former wrestler tells him that, after lengthy conversations with AJ the last few days, he'd decided to make it up to Mike for what he'd done to the inaugural edition of MizTV by giving him some TV time on Smackdown- with Sheamus as his guest. It goes badly quickly, the Intercontinental champion forced once more to watch as, following Dolph and Vickie's interruption, his set is demolished, having to bail on his show again. He rages all the way to the back, glaring viciously at an amused Booker T as he storms through the hallways and ducks into the locker room where his things are at.
No, no, no, no, dammit, he thinks, tangling his fingers in his gelled hair. Hold it together, hold it together... He's still waiting for any kind of verdict on what he had gone to AJ about weeks ago, he can't lose it now. He slumps down on a bench, trying to catch his breath. The last time he had been involved with an unbalanced person- R-Truth- he had begun to be taken in by the madness and paranoia, believing Truth's rhetoric that someone was after them, that there was a conspiracy against them. It hadn't been until his tag partner had gotten himself suspended for drugs that he had realized the conspiracy was all in Truth's head- he had sabotaged himself from the start, and Mike wasn't about to allow him to do it to his career as well. Cutting himself free from that had been the best move he'd ever made...
But now here he is, loosely involved with AJ and yet again swirling on the brink of madness as things crash down around him; with Alex out recovering from surgeries and John just plainly gone, he'd lost his only support systems. He shakes his head viciously, knowing logically that the two men are only a phone call away if he really needs them, but still in this moment, he's never felt so isolated. What do I do... what can I do...
By Monday, he's a little more together, deciding to put the past week behind him and look at this set of events with a fresh gaze... until he's half listening to the open segment, watching with a grimace as AJ goes out to address Paul Heyman and Punk, Vickie and Dolph who are currently discussing taking over Raw as AJ's replacements. It's still stuck in his head, the look on her face last week as Paul had suggested they get married while Punk had laughed behind him, the two men seeming to enjoy AJ's reaction- up until she'd reared back and smacked the smarmy older man, skipping from the ring afterwards. He hadn't really thought that much of it, glad she had stood up for herself, but the more she talks, the more he hates it- of course he had forgotten about the edict that she wasn't to touch talent or managers or...
"Dammit," he mumbles as she explains that she's been placed under evaluation and given an executive coach. He stews over this fact, pondering how it'll affect his plans, when Daniel Bryan of all people comes out and apologizes to her, all further conversation derailed when Kane follows his tag partner and starts lurking behind her, discussing what a good kisser she is. Miz makes a face, trying not to feel ill at how they're all leering at her following this. When the segment finally ends, he gets up and waits on a side hallway facing the gorilla position. As she walks by, he hisses her name, trying not to laugh as she stops short and spots him, forcing a smile while she skips up to him. "Hey, AJ," he greets her, brushing some of the strands of soft brown hair from her face.
"Hi, Mike," she says, eyes glinting in the faint light. "Is there something I can help you with?"
He looks around, watching as Kane and Daniel Bryan walk past where they're standing, yelling back and forth about their championships. Once they can hear each other again, he smiles down at her. "No, not really, I just wanted to see you before your coach took up all of your time."
"Oh," she waves that off like it's inconsequential. "I plan on getting rid of him as quickly as I can, don't worry about that." She stares up at him, a shrewd look appearing on her face. "You know, Mike, I haven't forgotten what you came to me about back when I first received this position. I haven't heard back from the board about it, but I will look into it tomorrow, I promise. I'm not sure exactly why they're being so unhelpful but I promise it's not dead in the water- I'll do all that I can to make this work."
He's heard similar things from her in the past but he can't really doubt her- it's his best chance to fix at least something, after all, and he would be utterly dumb to turn his back on the possibility now. "Thank you, AJ. That would mean a lot to me."
She smiles sweetly up at him and, resting a hand on the applique of his new shirt, takes in the writing across the front. "I like this design, by the way," she tells him. "I may have to get one for myself."
He leans in, his breath gently tickling across her heated skin as she stares back, seemingly mesmerized by the look on his face. "It'll look awesome on you," he tells her lowly, winking as he pulls away. "Now then I have a match to prepare for. We'll talk soon, right?"
She nods, watching as he goes. He turns at the edge of the hallway, leveling one more heavy look at her before he disappears from her sight. Her smile slipping from her face, she tilts her head and stares distantly at the wall before coming back to herself, turning to walk resolutely down the hall to meet her new coach in her office.
Mike's match is against Zack Ryder and he sneers over at the Internet champion, mocking him with his true Intercontinental Belt, before the action begins. It's another short match, the kid trying and failing to get the upperhand. When he hits hard with the broski boot, leaving Mike grabbing his jaw in agony, it's like it's awakened all of the anger he's held the last few weeks and gave him a target in the younger man. He grips him by the shoulders and throws him roughly into the turnbuckle, immediately landing a harsh Skullcrushing Finale that leaves Zack sprawled out on the mat, easily pinned and defeated as Mike rolls back out, an intense look on his face while he rubs his jaw gingerly.
He watches later on as AJ orders the coach from her building, taking over guest referee duties during the main event. When she counts Punk's shoulders down to Daniel Bryan, he muses over how long she could maintain this position of power. If it will be beneficial to his wants, his needs... or detrimental. "Just hold on awhile longer," he mutters to the TV. "Don't do anything to screw this up for me... please."
He has no idea what he'd do if his plans crashed and burned around him... but just the fact that it's taken this long for the board to decide, well... He's not sure even AJ's power, shaky as it is, could push anything through right now, but he can't lose the last bits of hope that he has. Not now. If she lost her power, his best option would be gone. "I don't know what to do," he mutters. "I... need to... do something..." He stares at the calendar hanging on the wall next to the door, growing even more despondent as he realizes that Morrison's birthday is only days away. "Well, there's at least one thing I can do." He leaves with his head held high, not willing to let an inch of weakness show as he makes his way to the rental car waiting for him.