Mike feels better than he had the week prior, even with the fresh jaw soreness, and he suspects it's more about he and AJ being fine this week compared to how she understandably could barely look at him the week prior at the start of his recovery, although the fact that he had avoided a concussion was also nice.
Even so, he's not that surprised when Alex is the one called in to do commentary for Main Event, unable to really complain when AJ accompanies them to where Main Event and Smackdown both will be held, content to stay and keep him company in the hotel room while Alex is at the arena. Ever since forgiving him, when not distracted by her own championship issues, she's been by his side, making sure he's as comfortable as is possible, getting whatever he needs, or even just cuddling against him as he sleeps away the pain.
Her head is resting on his shoulder, the warmth of her body against his doing more for him than any painkiller could, when Main Event begins and Alex starts it off by wishing him a speedy recovery, Mike chuckling softly against her hair as she hums and trails her nails down his chest, the two of them too content to move or say much of anything.
Although the few days he spends relaxing with her and Alex helping him as needed are nice, by Friday he's relieved to find that he can actually kind of sort of move his neck and shoulder again, however gingerly, and so he goes to Smackdown with fresh resolve, wanting the vengeance he'd laid claim to on Monday. And so, following the chorus of groans that accompanies HHH opening the show, Mike finds his way to the ring, interrupting the COO of the WWE.
He only speaks for a brief period of time when HHH interjects and, as Mike flashes back on what Stephanie had said only days earlier, tells him to blame himself for his own shortcomings, not management or anyone else for failing at the opportunities he was given against Orton, and with Big Show as a guest on MizTV. Mike's anger is boiling, blue eyes cold and hard as ice as he glares at his boss, who then gives him another opportunity- a rematch against Orton, Miz accepting. HHH, however, gets the final word, offering to fly in his parents to watch this match as well, mocking Cleveland's size and its airport before leaving.
Mike glances around at the crowd before leaving, breathing heavily through his nose as he makes his way back to the locker room, AJ's hand fitting snug in his while she follows him quietly from the gorilla position, already well aware that when he's stewing like this, it's best to remain quiet, give him at least a little time to himself.
He's so lost in his own world that he barely notices when Ricardo and RVD leave the locker room, only just realizing that Alberto Del Rio is wrestling R-Truth, bleeding from the mouth as Miz's former tag partner gets a surprising amount of offense in. This seems to anger the World Champion and, after he beats Truth, he runs back over to his struggling opponent and locks in the armbar, holding it in viciously until RVD and Ricardo run down.
RVD rescues Truth, who rolls out to the apron with some assistance from Ricardo, the ring announcer then rushing to get a steel chair, that he throws into Rob, who slams it into Del Rio time and again before kicking it into his face, Ricardo joining his new friend in the ring before looking down at his former employer, who is left laying on the ground, gripping his arm and face in pain while RVD holds the title belt high, appearing even more determined to leave Battleground champion.
Mike has to smirk a bit as HHH suggests, and Vickie agrees, that their match be made a Hardcore match, but RVD's night isn't over as later on, he comes out when Dolph Ziggler has a match against Dean Ambrose to counteract the other two members of The Shield being out there.
"Hey, where's Ricardo?" he murmurs, realizing belatedly that the ring announcer hadn't rejoined them after seeing RVD out to the gorilla position.
Rob had made it known early on he doesn't want Ricardo involved in this whole mess, enough of them getting hurt over the past few weeks that he doesn't want to put more of a target on the younger man's back, so although he understands enough to let Ricardo assist in things involving Alberto, when it comes to Orton, or The Shield, he won't risk the other man's career along with his own, and so Ricardo would generally stay in the back and wait... but for there to be no sign of him, now... It doesn't sit right with Mike, who then realizes he's just been much too distracted with this whole Orton situation to truly pay much attention to Ricardo, especially after the memory or dream he'd confessed to having a couple weeks ago.
"Damn," Mike whispers, burying his fingers in AJ's hair and, kissing her quickly, standing. "I'll be back before your match." She blinks and starts to say something but he hurriedly leaves the room, wandering around a bit to try to locate Ricardo. Even asks around, growing more worried by the negative response he receives from everyone around. "Dammit," he breathes, squeezing his hands against his sides. "Idiot, why would you start ignoring him now, when-..."
He stops talking suddenly, eyes falling on the shut door to the trainer's office and he sucks in a deep breath, suddenly just knowing. He's just reached for the doorknob when it twists violently and is forced open, Ricardo all but falling out as he says something in Spanish behind him, Mike gaping as he rushes past him, tears in his eyes. "Ricardo!" he finally cries out, chasing after him. "Stop, hey- man, hang on!"
He's just reached him, gripping his shoulder, when the ring announcer spins around and slaps his hand away, startling both of them by the anger behind the move. "Mike," he chokes out, collapsing in on himself as Miz forgets the pain Ricardo's rash movement had sent stabbing up his neck and arm, immediately leaning down by him. "Mike- I don't, I don't understand," he sniffs. "I don't-"
"What'd he do? Huh?" he breathes, pulling the ring announcer closer. "What'd he say?"
"He said- he said he did all of this to protect me," he whispers. "It makes no sense. Why- how could any of this protect me? And from what?" Mike has no idea so he just stays there, ignoring his body's various protests, how time is ticking away, his rematch ticking ever closer. "You know what else he said to me?"
"What?" he whispers, fingers buried in Ricardo's dark hair as he tries to sooth the younger man.
"He asked me- where... where my bowtie is at." He shakes his head glumly. "I don't even know- I haven't seen it since... since..." He chokes and closes his eyes, not wanting to remember that horrible night anymore.
"It's at Alex's," Mike says quietly, staring ahead blankly when Ricardo looks up at him. "It was- it was... we, uh... When Alex and I went to get your things from Del Rio's locker room, we returned and it was... it was on the counter, and- we, we packed it for you. So it's probably at Alex's, in whatever of your things you haven't unpacked yet."
Ricardo loses whatever balance he had left, sitting down heavily on the floor as he stares ahead blankly. "He... he was there, then? Is that what you're trying to tell me? It wasn't... it wasn't just a dream...?"
"It's highly possible, Ricardo," Mike whispers sympathetically, sitting next to him shoulder to shoulder and just listening to his ragged breathing until finally he can't stall any longer, his match against Orton next. "Listen, I have to go- RVD should be around somewhere, go to the locker room, relax a bit... I'll be back soon, and we'll talk, ok?"
He nods blankly and Mike stands up, heading for the ring. He fully plans on upholding his promise to Ricardo, knowing that this conversation has been brewing for quite awhile, but he just can't maintain any kind of offense against Orton. It devolves about as badly as their last match had, Mike quickly falling apart after landing on his already aching chest after a failed clothesline in the corner. From there it's all Orton as he attacks him in and outside of the ring, once more destroying him as HHH and Stephanie's insults the last few days ring in his ear with each blow to his already taxed body.
He sinks into unconsciousness, aware that there's nothing he can do against the Viper. Not now, maybe not ever. He groans, remembering the look on his mom's face, AJ's, Ricardo's, Alex's, everyone's... I'm sorry... Maybe they're right... I am just a failure... I try so hard though... It's never enough...
Trainers confirm that Mike's going to be ok, Orton's newest attack has just aggravated all of the injuries from the initial beatdown, and he knows he should feel relief at this, but he feels nothing as he heads into another week of dreading what HHH and all alligned with him will do or say to Mike or Mike's friends. Ricardo seems about as with it as he feels, the two of them looking blankly out the hotel window at Biloxi, Mississippi, unaware of the worried glances their similarly glum attitudes are beginning to garner from Alex, AJ and RVD. Only when Alex sits down next to Mike, RVD settling in next to the ring announcer, do they pay attention to what's going on around them, Ricardo blinking in surprise as he turns to find Rob's worried brown eyes peering over at him. "Rob?"
"Hey, man, are you ok? You've been awfully quiet the last few days. Ever since we beat down Del Rio with the steel chair, really." He squeezes the younger man's shoulder, trying to smile comfortingly at him. "If something's wrong, you know can tell me. I won't judge, I just wanna help you."
He swallows and stares at his hands before glancing anxiously over at Mike, who is looking over Alex's head at him. He nods discreetly and the ring announcer stands shakily, releasing a deep breath. "Would you mind... if we went for a walk then, por favor?" he asks nervously, aware that he should've told Rob this a long time ago, feeling all the more hypocritical the longer he stares at Rob's sincere gaze, considering how frustrated and confused he still feels over Alberto being so tightlipped and mysterious about everything, even now, only confessing the bare minimum when knocked loopy from repeated chair shots. "I'll tell you what's been going on."
"Of course," Rob agrees quickly, following his ring announcer out of the room, head tilted patiently as Ricardo tries to figure out how to begin his explanation.
Mike watches them go, lips twisted, before turning back to his own hoverers, glancing from Alex to AJ tiredly. "Well, ask what you want to ask," he finally says, wanting nothing more than to climb back under the sheets and sleep it all away- the echoing comments that Stephanie and HHH had both made the past week, the look in his friends and family's eyes, everything. But that's not him, he's not a quitter, however tempting it might sound late at night when everything's too quiet and his thoughts are too loud, and he's feeling weak and sore.
"You've been about as lively as Ricardo," Alex says softly. "Needless to say, that's not like you. I understand it's been a hard couple of weeks for you, but you're... usually better about bouncing back than this, even after much worse circumstances. What's going on?"
He's staring at his hands, uncertain if he wants to answer, when AJ slips between his arms and sits in his lap, staring at him with a soft, worried look in her dark eyes that captivates him, unused to her looking at him like that. He rests his forehead against hers, drinking her warmth in, wanting nothing more than to comfort her but unsure how to when he can't even find a split second of comfort for himself. "They were right," he finally mutters, eyelashes fluttering as she strokes a hand down his face. "Everything HHH and Stephanie said-"
"Wha-" Alex sputters, time stopping as he stares at Mike in horror, AJ's hand freezing against his jaw.
"I'm a failure," he finally verbalizes, resting his hands on her hips and gently lifting her off of him, standing to walk towards the bathroom. "I am just a utility player-" But before he can even touch the door, Alex is there, slamming it shut once more with one hand before gripping him with the other, forcefully turning him around. "Alex-"
"Hell no!" he cries out, incredulous gaze boring into Mike's weary face. "You are far from a failure. God, this is what you've been thinking about the last few days? Dammit, Mike." Fingers digging into his shoulders, he leads his former pro back to the beds and forces him to sit down, AJ quickly reclaiming her spot to make him stay still. "You were WWE champion-"
"No," AJ cuts in when Mike opens his mouth, already prepared to argue this and every other possible thing Alex could think of down. "Be quiet and listen to him, Mike," she tells him warningly, eyes piercing, worry replaced by grim determination. That look on her face makes him feel all the worse and he groans, shaking his head quietly before burying his face in her hair, trying to block out the world beyond her, although he does listen to Alex.
"You were WWE champion, and no matter what HHH says, you deserved that, you worked hard for it, and since then you've been the lead actor in the best selling DVD for WWE Films ever, you've been doing so many other things that just listening to you talk about them all makes my head spin, and you still find the time somehow to be good friends to me, Ricardo, John... and, I'm guessing, a decent boyfriend to AJ," he adds in, glancing at the girl who's stroking his hair as he breathes against her neck. "No matter what HHH says, Miz, you can't let it get to you. He can't see beyond his own nose most of the time, content to insult and belittle everyone who's not in his little circle. Please don't buy into the crap he's spewing. It's not worth it. You're far from a failure, you just need to ask me, AJ, John or Ricardo any time you start to doubt yourself again. We'll set you straight."
AJ has a small smile on her lips, actually looking relieved as she glances at Alex, who then realizes that Mike seems a lot less tense as he holds onto her, his breathing softer and not as rapid. "Mike?" she murmurs, kissing the side of his face as he pulls away from her and blinks a time or two, his lips still downturned as he kisses her.
When he finally turns his eyes onto Alex, the younger man feels nervous but it's a grateful smile he's granted as Miz nods at him. "Thanks, Alex. I guess you have a point. It's easy to buy into what he's saying, I guess, when I keep ending up on the mat, staring at the ceiling, but yeah... I know I should be proud of what I have accomplished... and no matter what he says, I'm far from giving up on accomplishing more."
Alex grins at him. "That's what I wanna hear."
It's a more relaxed Ricardo and Rob that return almost an hour later as well, the two of them pleasantly surprised to find Mike, AJ and Alex also at ease in comparison to how they'd left them. As Rob begins collecting a few things that he'll need at the arena, Ricardo makes no such move to his own bag, instead sitting back on the bed, kicking his heels against the frame. "Rob suggested I take the night off." He presses his hands together and shrugs. "I thought about it and decided to take him up on it. This way I can clear my head some more before Battleground..."
Mike looks thoughtful. "Want some company?" he offers after a moment, unable to help the smile that takes over his face when AJ and Alex stares at him in surprise. "I could use a distraction as well."
Ricardo grins back at him. "Of course. I'd like that, Mike."
They all fall silent, the others going about their business to head to the arena while Mike and Ricardo play hooky, until... "What is there to do in Biloxi anyway?"
Ricardo laughs. "I have no clue. We'll figure it out though."
And they do, leaving the rental car behind at the hotel and trailing along the darkening streets, taking in all that Biloxi has to offer. They even walk past the arena at one point, both men instinctively ducking their heads while waiting for fans to start surrounding them, curious why they're not inside, and demanding autographs, but it's quiet, and no one looks twice at them. "Wonder what's going on inside," Ricardo mutters, the itch to at least find a TV and check in on the show passing as soon as they leave the shadow of the arena, continuing along until they find a park, both men grinning as they stare down at a wide lagoon, listening to the sounds of ducks as night takes over.
They sit on a bench and just take it all in, comfortable and relaxed, until finally Mike checks his watch and finds that it's almost 10:30. "Holy crap," he laughs, shaking his head. "Man, the show's over, c'mon, let's go." He stands and holds a hand out to the ring announcer, pulling him off of the bench and resting his arm around his shoulders, the two of them walking side by side back towards the hotel. "This was kinda nice. Wouldn't want to do it every week, but hey..."
Ricardo nods, understanding. "Yeah, a break is nice sometimes." He nudges Mike. "Are you doing ok? I'm sorry- I was so wrapped up in my own stuff, I haven't really-"
Mike smirks. "It's fine, don't worry about it. I'm ok, Alex and AJ worked together to talk some sense into me." He sobers up. "How are you doing? Speaking of being distracted, I haven't been on top of things as well, either..."
Ricardo sighs. "I'm still confused," he admits. "But telling Rob the truth was the right decision. He, he took it better than I thought he would. At least I don't think he's lost faith in me, especially with the PPV so soon... And not seeing Alberto tonight helped as well, I'm not sure how to handle it. Or if I have to; I'll be surprised if he even remembers telling me all of that, he was really out of it." He shrugs. "Some situations we find ourselves in, huh?"
"Yeah," Mike mumbles. "But we'll be ok. I'm too stubborn to give up, and I know you, you won't either. It'll work out, we just need to get past all of this. And we will."
Ricardo smiles. "I'm beginning to believe you." Miz chuckles and they walk the rest of the way to the hotel, Mike leaving Ricardo at his and Rob's room before heading back to the elevator to get to his own floor.
He's just looked up when the doors open to bring him face to face with AJ, whose eyes light up upon seeing him. He grunts as she all but throws herself into his arms, laughing softly. "Hey," he mutters into her hair, carrying her out of the elevator before it can close on them. "Missed me?"
"Yes," she pouts against his throat. "They named that nasty Brie Bella #1 contender for my belt." She shifts her grip on something against his shoulder and he realizes that the belt is what's slapping against his back, smiling fondly into her hair as he adjusts his hold on her and carries her down the hallway, fumbling with his keycard before unlocking and pushing the door open one handed, marveling once more at her petite form as he carries her inside and settles her on the bed.
The bathroom light's on, Alex probably getting ready for bed, so he simply leans over and lightly kisses her. "It's gonna be ok, you'll do great. She has nothing on you." This seems to appease her slightly and she smiles up at him, but there's still some unhappiness in her eyes and he shakes his head, kissing her again.
He had enjoyed the last few hours, able to just relax and be himself with Ricardo, not worry about HHH and his comments or actions, but he can't do that kind of thing to AJ again, especially considering how sensitive she is to feeling abandoned, so no matter how certain he is she'll be ok, he vows yet again to be there this Sunday, support her through whatever may come.