The new year is off to a weird start. Mike's lost his opportunity at winning the Intercontinental title off of Gunther, and now he's partnering with R-Truth again. Kind of. He wasn't looking for that, at all, but considering how little of a plan he had without the IC title opportunity on the horizon, he thinks it's better than nothing. And Judgement Day is amusing to rile up, especially when R-Truth keeps going back and forth for who he's supporting, which so far has been a benefit to Mike.
He's sitting on the porch, watching Sara and George run around the backyard, playing and laughing in the sun, when his phone rings. He checks the screen quickly before answering it. "Hello?"
"Hey," John says. "So you're partnering with Truth again I see."
"Yep," Mike responds. "I guess I am. Depending on his mood."
"Seems kinda risky," Morrison muses. "He was unhinged before, now I'm not even sure how to describe what he's been doing since his return."
"Yeah, trust me, I'm not expecting anything great or long term from this. But if it at least gives me something to do through Rumble season, then I'll hopefully be able to think of something better for the road to Wrestlemania. You know?"
"I guess," John says after a few moments.
"Besides, you're the lucky one who gets to feud with Dalton Castle," Mike teases.
"He wishes," John scoffs. Mike can imagine him running his fingers through his hair as they talk. "The guy can't even get out of various carts backstage long enough to deserve to have a match with me, much less anything else."
Mike laughs. "I like when you're feisty," he says, leaning back against the steps with a smirk. "What do you think of his Boys?"
"I think they need therapy," he says. "I don't know, if not for Lucha Underground, I'd say they're the weirdest thing I've ever seen, but you know."
"Lucha Underground was definitely a special time," Mike says, recalling all of the things John went through inside of the temple. "Sometimes I'm glad that place is gone."
"Me too," John says. "I think if it had lasted much longer, I would've ended up, like, working for Wade Barrett or something."
"Dear god," Mike mumbles, shuddering. "Why would you put that out into the world?"
"Don't know, that place always made me think of the weirdest things." John says. "You're not going to have nightmares tonight now, are you?"
"I don't know! Maybe!" he exclaims, clearly overexaggerating his trauma to make John laugh, which he does. Mike smiles and shields his eyes to look out at the kids. "I need to go help AJ get lunch together," he says. "Call you back later, we can talk some more about your future match against Dalton Castle."
"Ha-ha-ha," John says dully. "Ok, talk to you later."
Mike hangs up and stares out at the kids with a smile on his face. He and John's schedules are too busy sometimes to talk too regularly, which makes afternoons like today even better. After another couple of minutes, he stands and motions to the kids. "Come on guys, lunch time."
When the kids come running towards him, he catches them both up and tucks them close under both of his arms, walking them inside as they giggle and squirm against him.