Broken Handcuffs [III]

i.

It made no sense.

It honestly, truly didn't make any sense.

Nicole would like to think she's recovered from the AJ backlash (she honestly would rather not think about it at all) but it's the constant nagging feeling that all of this is wrong, something isn't right that just— irks her. It pokes and prods at the very back of her brain as if it was reminding her, like the alarm Brianna used to have when she was informing for Nicole to take her pain medication and eat.

'Hey! Your hippocampus here. Informing you, once again, that something seems fishy about the AJ deal. Now, believe me I know you'd rather not think on it, which is why I'm fighting the natural instinct to give you all of the memories here. So settle with this as I have.'

How mundane was it to seriously wallow and sulk about a woman who pretty much tried (and damn near succeeded) to end her career? She was fucking crazy, point blank period, Nicole reasoned in her head. Her heart wasn't really up to that speed yet but as long as it was moving, it was far along enough for her to get back in the ring and continue doing what she loved. What she almost lost.

It's been about ten months since the debacle and Nikki was in a good storyline with Alexa, things looking up and Vince and Creative having the decency to not bring up AJ whenever the Women's War was mentioned. She finally felt like she had her feet beneath her again. Like she could breathe easy.

"Look, I know it's cliché, telling you to go to therapy after great emotional distress but I think it will do you some good."

So much for that.

"John," Nikki internally counts to ten, "no. Okay? You and Bri— fucking Daniel, Hunter and even Vince has been singing the same song around me. I don't want to go to a therapist." She was currently lacing up her Nike's for tonight backstage at Smackdown Live when she got the appeal. "I'm fine with the old-fashioned using my opponent as a punching bag method."

John scoffs in disbelief, already dressed in his ring gear. One hand takes the hat off his head and the other scratches at his growing buzz cut. It's a tick he does when he's trying to think of the next best thing to say. "Okay, who's been your opponent as of late?" He opts for a question which is about the safest route he can go without garnering Nicole's unnaturally explosive temper these days.

Nikki scrunches her face, "Lexi. We've been rivaling for a few weeks, you know that. Why?" She gets up and takes advantage of the current free space in catering to stretch out her legs and back. John then sighs, hat placed back on his head and he's now fiddling with his dog tags. This is another sign that what he's about to say isn't something Nicole's gonna like. She braces herself.

"You don't see what you do to her? You don't talk to her afterwards or watch your matches?"

"I mean-" Nikki pauses, "we text each other. I haven't seen her outside of work lately when I think about it." She purses her lips, slightly concerned but not really thinking on it like John's probably assuming she is. "Can you please get to the-"

"You hurt her, Nicole. Like bruise her." He exhales like he's relieved to finally be out with it and is ready to face potential blowbacks. Nikki makes a face and stands back upright.

"That comes with the job of being a wrestler John! You're acting like I go out there and literally beat her." She's the one to scoff now. I mean where does he get off coming at her like this? First suggesting she go to therapy and now saying she beats Lexi? Sure she hasn't seen her in person in a while and whenever she does try to plan things Alexa's always busy, and she's seen the occasional limp and has heard the hiss and whimper of the girl when they hug or she lands a little hard in the- "Fucking hell."