"So," AJ says sleepily, blinking up into the dark gloom of the early morning. "Are you refereeing again this week?"
Mike laughs, a tired, dozing kind of sound. "No," he murmurs. "They tell me I actually have a match this week."
AJ hums. Rolls over, kisses his jaw. "Sounds like fun," she muses, breathing softly as his fingers tease down her ribs, tracing her abs. Hard fought after two babies, and she smiles at the appreciation in his eyes as he takes her in.
"Could be," he smirks. "It's apparently against Cody Rhodes."
AJ sits up, stares down at him. "Hmm," she says. "Do me a favor?"
"Anything you want," he says, fingers warm on her skin. "What do you want, sweetheart?"
She muses a moment, then leans in to press a kiss to his jaw, easing up to whisper in his ear. "Make fun of his neck tattoo for me? Just a little?"
Mike laughs, her body shifting with the rise and fall of his chest. "Yeah, I'll happily do that. Any suggestions?"
She hums, pressing closer to him. "I'm sure if we put our heads together, we can think of something."
"Maybe a few things," he says, chuckling as she digs her fingers through his hair, pulling him into her.
-x
Mike hums to himself as he makes his way backstage, a list of potential insults for Cody running through his mind. A couple his idea, most AJ's. He figures the match won't go too far, because Seth will want to insert his two cents at some point, so he may as well get his fun where he can.
He hears Seth before he sees him, laughter echoing down the halls and besieging Mike's poor, innocent ears. He schools his features just before Seth comes into view, and Seth immediately rushes up to him. "There he is! Hey, Miz, how's it going?"
Mike is in the middle of answering when Seth begins cackling again, clearly barely listening to him. Mike blinks, surprised at being out-volumned for perhaps the first time in his life. "What's... funny?"
"I was just thinking about all of the insults you're probably going to throw at Cody later," he says, cackling a little longer. "If you need some help thinking of some more, you know how to find me."
"AJ and I thought up plenty over the weekend, don't worry about it," Mike says, quirking an eyebrow at Seth as he nods diligently.
"Ah, right, brainstorming with the wife. Good for you. Always fun." Seth smirks. "Offer still stands. Anyway." He winks at Mike. "Probably see you out there later."
"Yeah, I bet you will," Mike sighs, watching as the man prances off, his laughter echoing down the hall once more. "God..."
When Seth comes out later, Mike's far from surprised. He even pushes his frustration aside and helps Seth with Cody, leaving him laying. They're backstage, Mike grabbing a few things before showering, when Seth joins him. "Good choice on the insult, you should listen to your wife for all future offenses."
Mike rolls his eyes, piling up his towel and some clothes. "Yeah," he says dryly. "I'll keep that in mind."
He swears as he leaves the room that he can still hear Seth's obnoxious laughter all the way down the hall even after the locker room door slams shut behind him.