"So John is interested in the Money in the Bank briefcase, huh?" AJ asks sleepily, tucked into his side and pressing faint kisses against his neck and shoulder. "That kind of came out of nowhere."
Mike hums. "I guess," he says softly, rubbing slow, methodical circles up and down her arm. He'd thought about this as well, the last few days, and it kind of makes some sort of sense the longer he dwells on it. "I mean, if you really think about it, I guess it kind of makes sense in a John Morrison sorta way." He smiles. "Our friendship was kinda saved by a Money in the Bank briefcase, years back, so he probably just wants to know what it feels like to have that kind of power himself, I mean he's come close but he's never actually held a contract like that in all of his years in the business."
AJ hums and sits up, lightly kissing Mike. "That's kind of sweet, when you think about it that way."
"I know," Mike chuckles, arching up to kiss her back, sprawling his hand out over her back and pressing her closer. "I love you," he breathes into her and she groans softly.
"I love you too," she whispers back.
-x
"So tell me the plan again," John says, stretching out on the floor of their locker room, listening intently despite some of the absolutely painful looking positions he keeps putting his body into.
"Well, during the match later, I'm on commentary, you're in there against Otis, I run up while they're distracted, grab the lunchbox and run. You should be able to take the distraction and beat them, but if not, it's ok, at least we have the briefcase, right?"
John's grin is wide and impressed. "Right," he says, rolling out of his latest stretch and jumping up to his feet like it's nothing. "I like it! Let's do this!"
So they do, and to an extent, it works- Mike is watching closely from commentary for the perfect moment, and when it comes, he wisely avoids Tucker, runs around the ring as fast as he can in his priceless shoes, and dives for the briefcases. Grabbing the lunchbox, he's up the ramp, cackling, as quickly as he can. The match ends shortly after that but it doesn't really matter, as John stumbles over to join him and, through the disorientation caused by the match itself, looks in awe at the briefcase. They then rush backstage to find somewhere discrete where Heavy Machinery won't find them.
"That was great," Mike laughs, relieved to stop and catch his breath as John nods next to him, not nearly as winded as he is, despite just wrestling in a match moments earlier. "Alright, let's see what's in this bad boy," he decides, popping it open and reaching in for a contract that... isn't there. "What the-?"
It's a toy car and he stares at it in perplexed annoyance, John slumping next to him. "Dammit," he breathes.
Mike hangs his head too and puts the car back in the box. "Well, shit," he mumbles. But he's not done yet making life miserable for Otis, his eyes lighting up with renewed fury. "I have a perfect idea," he says with a demented grin as he reaches for his phone and dials a rarely used number. "Hey. Yeah, we need to have a chat."
With John watching, he finds a somewhat comfortable place to sprawl out, talking rapidly until his demand is met.
It's almost a struggle not to laugh like a mad scientist, later, when he's on Smack Talk, and informs the world that he's officially gotten Mandy Rose signed to Raw.
Checkmate.