Wrestling has a lot of ebbs and flows. Sometimes things are good, and sometimes things are bad, but more often than not, things are just so bizarre that Mike's not sure where to turn, how to feel, what to do next. It's all he can think about when he loses to AJ Styles on Smackdown, losing a couple of his teeth in the process and spending part of Friday flying back to California and the rest of it in a dentist's chair while AJ sits in the waiting room, reading magazines and gnawing on a bag of onion and sour cream crackers he'd brought for her. The only way he'd agreed for her to come at all was if she promised, should his appointment go long, to go next door to the little restaurant and have something more filling than crackers to eat.
But the dentist is great, quick and sufficient in fixing Mike's mouth so before he expects it, he's back on his feet, numb but with a perfect smile once more. AJ's eyes light up when she sees him and she gently cups his face, kissing him as he draws her up to her feet. "All done, huh? Everything go alright?" This is directed more to the dentist than to Mike and he chuckles at her mother lion tendencies already coming through.
"Yes, your husband was the perfect patient." The dentist grins, casting a quick glance at her stomach before turning to Mike. "Since you were such a good boy, you can pick a treat from the cup over here."
Mike rolls his eyes but glances at AJ once more before sneaking over and picking a sheet of stickers out from the group, rejoining her and wrapping an arm around her. "Let's go home and get you something better to eat than this, huh?" He brushes an awkward, almost sloppily numb kiss to the side of her face and she wrinkles her nose up with a giggle, leaning into him as they walk out of the building. He's going to get revenge on AJ Styles for this, but for now... he's more than content to sit at home and eat gingerly as soon as he can feel his face once more, relieved for the stabilizing presence of his wife and the aspirin that he takes once the pain starts in.
They spend the weekend lazing around the house, Mike leaving a couple of times to get food, to go to the gym, a handful of other things. He's setting up for an impromptu Super Bowl thing with Morrison and Star, making sure to put out plenty of food for AJ, who is currently napping, when his phone beeps. He frowns and grabs it, surprised to find new text from: Daniel Bryan flashing on the screen. Upon opening it up, the breath is forced from his lungs and he sits down heavily, missing the couch entirely and sitting down hard on the floor, staring at the screen blankly.
Daniel and he had never been friends, always hating each other for one way or another- which, he admits now part of the reason it was second nature to take credit for Daniel's success when Mike had only been involved in a very limited part of Daniel's career was because of how Daniel had thrown AJ away, had broken her so thoroughly that she'd nearly lost her mind, pingponging from relationship to relationship until settling here, with him... and Daniel seems perfectly happy with Brie Bella now, so Mike assumes that everything worked out in the end for them all. Until now, anyway.
Daniel's been on the injured list for almost a year due to some lingering issues with his neck and arm that Mike had never fully understood, only to return to receive a concussion that shelved him for the past nine months, Mike only following the situation from a distance, never losing hope that the man would one day be able to return to his one true passion. Mike'd been his NXT mentor for such a short amount of time, it seems almost silly that it would all still matter, but it does. Because of their history, because of how, even when his proteges betray him, Mike still cares for whatever reason. Even with Sandow, Mike still kind of cares, watching when he can as the man does what he can at live events, on UpUpDownDown. He had warned Sandow, he had warned Daniel, even Alex... Neville, AJ Styles. All of them, no one listened to him, and now... well, look at them all. Of course AJ's too new to have the business beat him down yet, but Mike only gives it a matter of time, knowing it'll get him eventually.
But this text, honestly, was the last thing he'd ever wanted to read.
You're probably shocked at seeing a text from me. I owe you nothing, considering everything we've done to each other over the years, but even though I don't agree with you when you say my success is thanks to you, I do owe you a lot- being your rookie lit a fire under me to succeed on my own, paved the way for me to win my first title in hte WWE. So for that reason, I'm telling you first out of everyone in the locker room.
I have to retire. I thought I was ok, but a new, state of the art brain scan has confirmed that I have more problems than anyone realized before now, and I can't risk my future with Brie by continuing to wrestle. So... that's that. I'm announcing it on Raw Monday, and um... I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm trying to focus on the good parts of my career, including gratitude, and this may shock you... but yes, Mike, thank you for your role in motivating me at the start of my WWE career. I'll probably see you on Monday, but in case you get your teeth knocked out again and I don't, have a good life. Take good care of AJ, and of yourself. Goodbye.
Mike swallows. Stares at the sea of words, unable to even find an inkling of anger at the few barbs in the text. Finds himself trapped on I have to retire, reading it over and over again through blurry vision. He's still lost in thoughts, memories, crazy speculation, when he hears a soft, sleepy sound behind him and turns to find AJ padding into the room. She freezes upon seeing the tears in his bright blue eyes, rushing over to him as quickly as she dares. "What is it, Mike? What's wrong?" She grips the couch and kneels down next to him awkwardly, one hand brushing the tears off of his face as the other takes the phone from him and reads through it. "Oh... oh Mike," she breathes, putting the phone down and leaning over to hug her husband. "That's awful."
He hugs her tightly, running his fingers up and down her back and neck, thinking. AJ had had to take time off here and there in the tail end of her own career for injuries, and mental burn out and to think of her continuing, worsening it all... He kisses her neck, her throat, her cheeks. "I'm so glad you're out of the business," he breathes, kissing her mouth softly, then deeper, breathing her in.
She pulls away after a moment and searches his face. "I know it frustrates you that they're booking you less, but I'm so glad you're kind of taking a step back too. I don't know what I'd do if something happened to you like it did Daniel." She snuggles up close to him and smiles when his arm rests lightly over her, fingers brushing against her stomach. "I love you, Mike."
"I love you too," he whispers.
Traveling out to Raw the next day hurts. It's somber in the locker room, not the usual atmosphere he's used to. Alberto seems unaffected, of course, but Alicia is sad, Paige is quiet, and they sit around lost in thought. Jericho is on MizTV and Mike examines his teeth before going out to the ring. He does mention Daniel, unable and unwilling to specify his thoughts while in front of the audience, but Daniel's text is fresh in Mike's mind and it's not meant disrespectfully when he once more credits himself with Daniel's career. Jericho interrupts a minute later anyway, and Mike argues with him as he takes over the set, changes it over to the Highlight Reel set, and then AJ Styles comes out and, after a lot of insults back and forth, Jericho and AJ double team Mike, throwing him out of the ring and then over the announcer's desk.
He lays there for a few moments, dazed, licking his teeth to make sure they're still in-tact. Finding everything as it should be, he gets up and stumbles backstage to find Daniel waiting for him. He blinks dazedly at the other man before feeling his arm getting lifted, put around Daniel's shoulders as he assists him away from gorilla. "You're a slow learner, aren't you? One would think you have the brain damage."
It's weird, hearing Daniel joke about this, right now, but it's what Mike needs to hear to quell the butterflies that'd been jostling around in his stomach since once more crediting himself with Daniel's success. He squeezes Daniel's shoulder in response and sighs in relief when he's deposited into the trainer's room and Daniel leaves to find his wife once he's sure Mike's ok. "Damn," he breathes, burying his face in his hands and sitting back to wait to get examined.
A WWE world without Daniel Bryan... it's hard to imagine. Mike's certain he doesn't like it. Once the trainer finishes with him, he returns to Alberto's locker room and watches the show disinterestedly until it's the end, and all of them group at gorilla to listen to Daniel's half an hour retirement speech. Once he's done, they all walk onto the entrance ramp and applaud him, doing the YES! chants out of respect for the 16 years this man had spent fighting, clawing and going against everyone to reach the pinnacle of the business and be #1 in all of the fans' hearts. Maybe for a short time, yes, but it would never ever be taken away from him, or the crowd still chanting YES! long after Daniel exits back into the gorilla position, clearly needing time alone with Brie.
Mike shuffles around a bit, giving the couple as much privacy as he can. He has to leave for Smackdown soon, but... he hasn't gotten to say anything he'd wanted to say to Daniel so he waits. LIstens to the techs packing up, preparing to travel on to the next arena to set things up over there for the next show. Feels some relief when Daniel finally gets to his feet and walks over to Mike, struggling to smile through the pain in his gaze. Away from the crowd, it's clear it's all hitting him finally and Miz swallows down his own emotions, doing something the three of them don't expect. He holds his arms out and waits until Daniel steps forward and hugs Mike as tightly as he can, transferring all of the pain and fear that he doesn't want to lay on Brie on Mike, not worried about hurting Mike or scaring him like he would be his wife.
For a moment, Mike wonders if Daniel's seen Kane, talked to him, but it doesn't seem like the time to ask. Team Hell No ended so badly, especially with Kane causing some of Daniel's injury leave a couple of years ago, so Mike keeps it to himself. Instead squeezes Daniel and mumbles, "You said this to me yesterday, and I didn't know how to respond. Nothing I typed out seemed right, and it still doesn't. But... I want to say thank you too. Thank you for helping us all to see that crowds are still in this, we just need to give them a reason to be invested. Thank you for putting me on this path that caused me to see AJ for what a beautiful, special woman she is. Thank you for everything."
Mike's shirt is soaked when they pull away but neither say anything about it, Daniel finding Brie's hand and giving it a gentle squeeze. "The business won't be the same without your ridiculous, never say die attitude." Mike hesitates, licking his tongue over his teeth once more. "I guess I'm saying... we're going to miss you."
Daniel laughs. Daniel cries some more. "I'm going to miss you too, Mike. I don't know why, but... I am."
Mike releases a breath, nodding somberly. "I know you probably won't take me up on this, but if you ever need anything... well, you clearly have my cell phone number." He shuffles around a bit more, awkward. "Goodbye, Daniel."
"Goodbye, Mike," he says softly, gripping his wife's hand as they walk off, one last time through the halls of the arena.
Mike makes it all the way to his car before dissolving into tears of his own.