There's a lull after Royal Rumble. Mike isn't sure what to do with himself in that strange in-between place where things are only just starting to pick up with the Road to Wrestlemania officially beginning. He sits in the grass, listening to George and Sara Lou giggle and play, and stares up at the sky as wispy white clouds drift by. It's cool, but not too cool, so he's content with being outside and letting AJ catch a quick nap inside while the kids get some fresh air in the yard a few feet away from him.
He glances towards the guest house and wonders about Alicia for a minute, how she's doing. Between her and Ricardo, that house hadn't been too vacant during the pandemic, and he's glad he has such a sprawling property that he can help his friends out easily. He sighs and stands up, casting one quick glance over at the kids before pulling out his phone. "Hey," he says as soon as it clicks.
"Oh, hey, Mike!" Alicia greets him. "What's up?"
He paces a little, running his fingers through his hair. "Well, I'm just wondering how you're doing in there, if I can get you anything. Groceries, or... whatever. I'd be happy to help." Honestly, he's just antsy and bored, and even something as simple as filling out an online grocery order for her would be better than sitting around trying to see something in clouds overhead.
"Oh no, that's fine," she says cheerfully. "I'll be out of your hair before you know it, I don't really need anything."
"Stay as long as you need," he says. "So you're good? No symptoms or anything?"
"Nope." He hears what sounds like her dropping back against something soft and he can picture her sprawled out over the cream couch inside. "I feel just fine."
He smiles. "That's good, I'm glad." He's out of things to talk about now, so he reluctantly lets her go and turns his focus back to the kids when his phone rings again. He lights up when he sees who it is, answering. "Hey, John."
"Hey, man, just running a quick errand and thought I'd ask if you needed anything," John comments.
"Nah, thanks for thinking about us though," Mike says, smirking about the mirroring of his conversation with Alicia to this moment. "I'm bored out of my mind, the kids are playing, AJ's asleep, and... I dunno. I always forget how restless I feel after something like the Rumble, y'know?"
"Yeah, I get it," John says. "I feel like that sometimess too. But hey, we'll be back on the road for Raw soon, maybe that'll help."
"I hope so," Mike mumbles. He lets his mind drift, and when John begins talking about Valentines Day plans he has with Taya, Mike's relieved to cling to something else for a few minutes.
-x
The weekly flight to Florida dawns bright and early and John grimaces when he catches a glimpse of Mike's exhausted eyes when he takes his sunglasses off during boarding. "Damn, man, rough night?"
"You could say that again," Mike sighs. "George had a rough night with teething, none of us really got anything worthwhile."
John winces. "Poor guy. Hopefully there won't be any crying babies on this flight and you can catch up a little."
"Maybe," he mumbles, though he doubts it. However, it's easier than he assumes and one minute, he's clinging to consciousness by his fingertips, listening to the flight instructions, and the next, he's waking up to find them departing in Florida. He blinks sleepily, looking from the window to John and back. "I... guess I was more tired than I realized."
John merely smiles at him, getting up to reach their bags in the overhead department. "C'mon, let's get outta here."
Upon arriving at Raw, they discover two things. Mike has been placed'in-the Elimination-Chamber- which gives him SO little time to prepare, actually thinking about it nearly draws him into a panic attack- and Angel Garza is wrestling Damien Priest tonight. Upon learning that, it only takes a few moments to find the man and weedle a conversation and some level of camaradrie from him. It's pretty obvious he won't win, but it's always good to have someone on your side. Especially with Bad Bunny lingering around.
Mike thinks things might actually have a chance to play in their favor when... Bad Bunny steals the briefcase, and the next thing they know, both Mike and John have been ejected from ringside. So, sadly, all they can really do is make their way backstage and watch from the monitor as Damien, of course, defeats Garza and leaves him laying, dazed and confused under the lights.
"I'm getting very sick of this bunny guy," John mutters, leaning forward and rolling his shoulders slowly.
"Me too," Mike sighs. "Me too."
He's not sure what to do about it, but he's sure given enough time he could think of something. And he will, because nothing will ruin his opportunity. Ever.