Mike is still in Malaysia for Smackdown, so he misses everything that leads up to Paige vs Brie Bella, with AJ and Nikki on commentary and, although the time zone differences and his own media schedule keeps him from watching it live, he watches it on the laptop that night, trying to keep track of what's happening with his wife even when he can't call her easily. He watches as she confronts Nikki, the Bella twin pushing her and causing AJ to tackle her and beat her down until Brie leaves the ring to rescue her sister, pulling AJ off. This continued compassion for her sister causes her to lose the match, however, AJ watching with a tense look on her face as Paige celebrates with the divas title afterwards. Mike sighs, turning the video player off and yawning slightly. He loves media events, but they do tire him out... especially when he misses sleeping next to his wife, listening to her breathing and holding her close. I'll be home soon, he consoles himself, trying yet again to get comfortable in the cold bed.
After a long weekend of stilted conversation with his wife between interviews and autograph signings and whatever else is on his agenda (after awhile, it all blurs together until he can barely keep anything straight), Skype a better bet than most things, although the timezones still hinder their actually being able to catch up with each other, Mike is relieved to find himself back on a plane heading for the States. When he finally lands in Maryland late Sunday night, he's exhausted, but AJ is waiting for him and her warmth pressed against him, pressing soft kisses against his lips, helps to revive him enough to lift her and hug her properly, burying his face in her hair as she wraps her legs around his waist and holds on tight. "I missed you," he mumbles.
"I missed you too." She strokes his face, nuzzles into him, and sighs. "I think Sandow did too, he made a Mizdow shirt to wear at live events and everything." Mike can't help but laugh at this, the deep vibrations coming from his chest soothing AJ as she smiles down at him. "Did you hear about Ricardo in Puerto Rico?"
He had. The former ring announcer had gone around media cirquits, doing interviews and whatever else, annoying the various hosts... just to ultimately lose to Ray Gonzalez, who had turned around and challenged Del Rio directly to come to the island and face him properly. Mike's not sure how a loss this soon in Ricardo's return to non-WWE competition will be handled by the man, but he's sure he'll be ok in the long run. Besides, Del Rio will help him through whatever he's got going on, and Alex... and Paige. Even if I barely see him anymore, he's far from alone. It's still weird, not being on hand to help with whatever Ricardo might need. Mike sighs and shrugs, resting AJ back on the floor and curling his fingers around hers. "Come on, sweetheart. Let's get out of here."
"Sounds good to me," she says, all but dragging him out of the airport and towards the rental, eager to get back to the hotel for some much needed privacy.
-x
He's jetlagged as hell the next day, groggy and hyper and cranky, and AJ takes to massaging his temples while he tries to sip his pumpkin spice latte, his hands barely working sometimes. It helps his headache, it really does, and he sighs before pushing his drink aside and burying his face in his arms. "I hope I'm not booked in a match tonight," he mumbles, releasing a deep breath as her hands trail down his back, soothing across his shoulder blades and spine. "Good God. Don't stop." Her lithe fingers continue working him over as he dozes against the table, more comfortable than he's been since intially leaving for Malaysia.
She does, however, come to a slow stop and when he whines, pulls him back against the chair so there's space for her to sit in his lap, facing him, and he blinks blurrily at her, far from pleased. "Relax, Mike... it's ok." She reaches behind her and snags his latte, holding it in front of his face as his hands rest limply on her thighs, stroking her warm skin. She holds the mug to his mouth and smiles as the spicy scent of it encourages him to part his lips so she can tip the cup enough that he can sip from it without moving. About halfway through, some life returns to his dark blue eyes and she beams down at him, shifting closer and pressing a kiss to his lips, licking away some of the foam left behind by the latte. "Better?" When he nods, she smiles and brings the cup back, helping him to down the rest of it.
By now, he's nearly himself again, and she's just congratulated herself on thinking to slip some painkillers into the mix for his headache when he wraps his arms around her and pulls her closer, kissing her softly at first but quickly growing intense as she gasps into his warm, slick mouth, tasting the pumpkin on his tongue when he arches into her, pressing her against the table. "Thanks," he breathes into her skin as he presses openmouthed kisses down her stomach. She can't even find the words to respond, her fingers tangled in his hair as she shifts to keep up with him.
Unfortunately, there's not enough painkillers or caffeine in the world to prepare him for Raw that night, where he watches blankly as Ziggler shows photos of his skincare regimen. Private photos that AJ had taken so he could compare them with his dermatologist and ensure that he's taking care of his skin properly, make sure it remains smooth and perfect for future movie roles... he shudders when Dolph teases a particular photo that Mike knows all too well what it is without having to look. He pales and grips Sandow, who'd been watching next to him, pushing him out towards gorilla. They interrupt before Ziggler can show anything, exchanging insults with him until Dolph shows the very final picture that AJ had snapped as a joke, of Sandow spray tanning Mike's... well. He sees red and again pushes Sandow ahead, the two of them trying to rush Dolph but it's a repeat of a couple weeks ago, Sandow getting Zigzagged while Mike gets away safely.
He's beyond angry as he storms backstage, tugging at his hair. He's still exhausted, worn to the bone from all of the traveling he's had to do, he has media responsibilities early in the morning, he's not going to sleep well for who knows how many more days, and he feels really close to his breaking point right now, especially with those damn pictures leaked on the titantron for the tens of thousands of people in the arena, and the millions at home watching, to point and laugh at him. "Ziggler and his lame humor, thinking he's better than me, why did I ever make a truce with him?" he demands of himself, pacing around and idly kicking at trunks that he passes. "Dammit!"
He stops short, however, when thin arms lace around his midsection, AJ holding him close. "I'm sorry," she whispers against his skin. "It was supposed to be a harmless joke, I don't even know how Dolph got ahold of them-" Mike is tense, his body twitching under her fingers, and she worries that perhaps this is his breaking point, after the excruciatingly long weekend he's had, but he slowly turns towards her and wraps his arms around her, grumbling into her hair nonsense that makes her smile a little, though she still worries for him. "My match is next," she breathes, regretting that she has to leave him like this but having little choice. So he releases her and she shifts up on her tippytoes, kissing him softly. When he pulls back just to lightly kiss her nose affectionately, her heart lifts and she smiles up at him before turning to leave.
He says nothing, watching the match quietly, but his eyes widen when AJ forcefully tags in by slapping Paige in the chest. It's not long afterwards, Paige once more in the match and on the cusp of defeating Rosa Mendes, when AJ tags herself in once more and tangles the newest cast member of Total Divas up in her Black Widow submission, causing the woman to tap desperately. AJ gets her hands on the divas title then and, ignoring Paige's angry response, kisses the title before returning it to the current champion, who also kisses it, her eyes locked on AJ viciously.
AJ shrugs and skips backstage, glad to return to Mike's side and throw her arms around his neck, kissing him softly. "Mike... are you ok?"
He says nothing for a long moment, pressing his forehead against hers, before he nods slowly. "I'm fine, sweetheart." His fingers are warm against her sides and she sighs, closing her eyes. "Let's go back to the hotel."
It's her turn to nod as she hums into his mouth, his fingers tracing against her stomach and making her shiver. "Let's do that."