"I can't do this," Mike says, sounding on the cusp of a panic attack. "AJ, I... this..."
"II know," she says, trying her best to comfort him over the phone. "You're scared, it's understandable, but I believe that you can defeat him. But, Mike, I really, really hate that you have to put yourself in reach of that monster. The things he's done to you the last few weeks... I don't want to have to see you endure that again. It's... really scary, and I can't imagine how it must feel for you. After everything."
"Yeah," Mike mumbles. "But that's not the only problem. I..." He exhales. "I injured my shoulder."
"On top of your elbow?" AJ asks, biting her lip. "Maybe you could go get the match postponed. HHH might-?"
"HHH doesn't care," Mike sighs. "He never has. And he who shall not be named is one of his precious NXT guys, so I... I need to think of something else. Can we brainstorm for awhile?"
"Of course," AJ says. "Anything you need."
-x
It's not easy to make the things he and AJ had thought up pan out. Gargano keeps involving himself, ruining Miz's attempt to fake a knee injury. Mike's next idea is easier- Lumis comes out and Mike is right there, waiting for the right moment. When it comes, he takes it, battering Lumis down with a chair until there's no chance at all for their match to continue.
Gargano, however, still refuses to take the hint, and continues nagging Mike to tell the truth. Miz's worry grows and grows as he stares into Gargano's smug, awful face, wondering if somehow Lumis had found out- if they know where Ciampa has been this entire time, and maybe tormented him into revealing Mike's actual private life with AJ, Sara Louisa, and George.
He finally escapes and goes back to the hotel, slumping down on his bed and staring blankly at the wall. "Christ," he breathes out, digging his fingers into his eyes. "What the hell do I do if they know... this could ruin everything..."
They've come close over the years, between Ziggler and other people Mike allowed himself to get too close to over the years, but this is a level of uncertainty even he can't fully wrap his head around. Everything feels all too tenuous between Ciampa being missing for the third week running, and Gargano constantly circling, promising something horrible for Mike's livelihood in the immediate future.
"DAMMIT!" he cries out, kicking his duffel bag into the wall and gritting his teeth when even that doesn't help him to feel better.