It's weird, being forced to sit back and watch as the wrestling world rotates on without him. Don't get him wrong, he adores the wheelchair John decorated for him, and how John is determined never to leave him in a precarious position with it again. After the first couple weeks of mishaps, he's now constantly on watch for whenever Mike might need something. It's sweet. And exhausting. He can't wait for the day he can walk again, without crutches, and then can wrestle again, by John's side. The way it should be.
"Hey, look," John says, cutting into his thoughts, and Mike frowns at his phone, scrolling through the Raw announcements being made on twitter before his face lightens up.
"Johnny!" he exclaims. "You're in a qualifier for Money in the Bank!" His initial excitement wanes pretty quickly. Yes, he's happy for his best friend, but the more he thinks about it, the more he realizes just what he's going to miss out on because of his knee. He slumps a little bit in his chair and John stares down at him sympathetically, reaching out to squeeze his shoulder.
"I'm sorry, Mike," he says softly. "You know I'd give up this chance in a heartbeat if it meant your knee was 100%."
Guilt rushes through Mike and he takes in a deep breath. "No, no," Mike insists, forcing a smile up at him. "I'd never want you to do that. Don't worry. I'll be alright."
Still, John seems pensive and overly attentive for the rest of the afternoon, until it's time for his match. Mike gets to talk beforehand, and he does what he does best before John's match, then settles in at ringside to watch. It's really annoying to watch Orton slowly dismantle his best friend right before him, and when Orton purposely seems to drag Morrison to the commentary table to hoist him up and send him back first onto the table, Mike's temper snaps and he yells at Orton, slamming his fists down on the armrests of his wheelchair.
Immediately he regrets it as Orton turns his focus onto him, glaring straight through him. Apologies and pleas burst from his lips as he begins to roll away, desperate to get away, to not get hurt worse. He knows Orton would do it- of course he would... He only breathes a little easier when John stumbles back into the fight, and he and Orton begin to brawl anew. John's still struggling to get any sort of momentum when Mike decides to do something- again. He feels a little more courageous with Orton in the ring, but still.
Still, it's 2021, and he's just sprayed Orton straight on with Morrison's Drip Stick. Holds his breath and waits as Orton once more glowers at him, Morrison the only thing keeping him from going right after him this time. But ultimately it's not just Mike that assists John, Riddle comes out and he and Mike arguing seems to attract Orton's attention, giving John just enough time to take him down, hit the Starship Pain, and win! Mike wishes he could walk, he'd jump up out of the chair and do a little victory dance with his best friend because holy shit, he knows how difficult it can be to claim a win against Orton- John just achieved that and qualified for Money in the Bank! Yeah!
Still, as overjoyed he is for his best friend, it's a relief to get out of there, to go backstage and sink back into his chair as they sit in the locker room and absorb everything that's just happened. "I really am happy for you, man," Mike murmurs, and John looks up and over at him with a slow, pleased grin.
"Thanks, Mike. For everything. Don't think I could've done it without you."
Mike nods absently, examining the Drip Stick. "Y'know, I really like this thing. It comes in handy sometimes."
John laughs. "Yeah," he sighs, working at unwinding and tearing off his wrist tape. "It really, really does."
Mike watches him for a long moment and then shifts. "You're gonna have to fight for both of us at this thing. I know you'll do your best."
"Yeah, man," John says softly. "I've been in so many of 'em over the years. Who know, maybe this'll actually be my year."
Mike grins. "Well, I'll do all I can to support you. Probably won't be at ringside for that one, though. I'm sorry."
John stares at him. "No need to apologize, Mike. Your wellbeing is the important thing."
Mike nods, a burst of affection for his best friend overwhelming him. "Thanks, John," he says softly, content just to sit back and watch as John slowly rids himself of his wrestling gear and changes into street clothes.
"I'm ready to go whenever you are," he says cheerfully, resting his hands on the back of the wheelchair.
"Let's get outta here," Mike responds, dropping his head back to look up at John with a faint grin.
"Hell yeah," John exclaims, beginning to push him out of the door, towards the exit, clearly eager to go before Orton or someone else could cause them trouble.
Mike settles in and drifts, thinking about the circumstances he finds himself in. A best friend willing to push him around in this wheelchair week after week, a family determined to support him come rain or shine, and a stable career no matter what happens to him. Yeah, he's a very lucky guy.