Prioritizing

[Yeh Ren]

☼“F.C.P.R.E.M.I.X.” by The Fall of Troy hits the arena as Yeh Ren makes his way to the ring, Kagrra following behind. Both are obviously still feeling the effects of John Gone’s attack, with Yeh Ren limping and favoring his side and Kagrra’s hand bandaged. Yeh Ren seems to be trying to ignore his pain as he rolls into the ring, helping Kagrra in and calling for a mic.☼

Yeh Ren: Normally what I’d do about now is talk about my match with Windsor at Revolution. A win on Monday would be huge for my career, and any other day I wouldn’t be able to think about anything else at a time like this.

☼Some of the crowd is more on his side than previously. No “Who the fuck are you” chants☼

Yeh Ren: But after some…events…that took place a day ago, the match on Monday just got knocked off the top of my priorities list, because a certain someone else just got all of my attention.

☼Eyes filled with rage, Yeh Ren turns to face the stage area☼

Yeh Ren: JOHN GONE. I don’t know who the HELL you think you are, I don’t know what your issue with me is. But if you want to attack me after my match with a chair, try and take me out back stage, that’s fine. Do your worst.

☼He takes his robe off and points to the scars scattered across his torso☼

Yeh Ren: I’ve had the crap kicked out of me, been in some of the most violent matches you’ll see. Do you think some chair shots or getting knocked around backstage is going to make a difference to me? I can take whatever you can dish out and more. You don’t scare me, you don’t intimidate me, you don’t impress me. What you have done is pissed me off!

☼Some of the crowd cheers☼

Yeh Ren: Like I said, I can take more than you can dish out.

☼He points over to Kagrra☼

Yeh Ren: But you do not put your hands on her. Period. She doesn’t get involved with the matches, she doesn’t try to wrestle, she never does anything to anybody, so whatever issue you think you have with me, you leave HER the hell out of it! I probably wouldn’t have given you a second thought besides wanting a rematch to get some payback for your attack on me. But the shit you pulled yesterday…

☼He lowers the mic, visibly seething with anger☼

Yeh Ren: From what I understand, there’s a big event coming up. International Incident. I want you in a match, no rules, no disqualification.

☼The crowd cheers pretty loudly at this☼

Yeh Ren: And I want your answer right now.

☼Yeh Ren lowers the microphone and glares at the stage, waiting for Gone’s response☼

[John Gone]

An ominous bell rings out in the arena as Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds’ “Red Right Hand” signals John Gone’s arrival. Gone casually enters the arena in dark grey dress pants and a white button down shirt. He smirks, looking as though he couldn’t care less about Yeh Ren’s challenge. He strolls down the ramp towards the ring, rolling his sleeves up. He stops short of the ring and sits on the crowd barrier for a second, gazing into the ring and tightening his wrist tape. The announcers muse that he isn’t simply there to accept Yeh Ren’s challenge.

Yeh Ren glares at him impatiently as Gone finally gets up and climbs into the ring. He stands opposite Yeh Ren and they stare each other down. Gone leans casually against the ropes. Yeh Ren appears ready for another attack. Gone starts to walk towards Yeh Ren. For a second, his eyes dart to his side at Kagrra. As he passes her on his way to Yeh Ren, he swings his arm, taking Kagrra off of her feet with the back of his hand. Yeh Ren snaps and lunges at Gone. Gone pulls a timekeeper’s hammer from the back of his waistband, hitting the blunt end of it against the bottom of Yeh Ren’s jaw. Yeh Ren staggers back in a daze, but manages to stay on his feet. Gone lackadaisically tosses the hammer back over his shoulder and bends down to pick up the microphone. You have your match.

He drops the microphone and begins taking off his wrist tape. Under the tape, wrapped tightly around his wrist, is a thick, braded wire. He stalks around Yeh Ren, his equilibrium shot with the blow from the hammer. He unrolls the wire from his wrist and wraps either end around each hand. He can barely keep his smile repressed. Yeh Ren staggers forward. Gone gets behind him. He lunges at Yeh Ren and wraps the wire around his neck. He pulls tight with an almost manic glee. Yeh Ren snaps out of his daze and fights to get free. He bats back at Gone to no avail. Gone pulls tight, Yeh Ren leaving his feet once or twice, his eyes bugging out. Yeh Ren pushes against Gone. Gone falls back onto the mat, dragging Yeh Ren with him.

Yeh Ren fights to roll out. He digs desperately at the wire digging into his neck, rubbing raw, cutting skin. He digs his nails in. He starts to bleed. Gone doesn’t try to hide his smile anymore. It widens with each of Yeh Ren’s struggles. He shuts his eyes and bites his lip. Yeh Ren pushes up with all his might. The wire cuts in. His nails take little pieces of skin as they try to pull the wire off of his neck. His eyes droop. Then they close. Then he doesn’t struggle anymore. Gone lets him go. His limp body rolls off of Gone toward the middle of the ring. He’s still for a moment before gasping air into his lungs and coughing.

Gone doesn’t move for a moment. Yeh Ren’s blood stains his shirt. He arches his back and stretches his arms behind him like a cat, a look of serenity on his face. He pulls out a cigarette and lights it. He rests his arms behind his head. Kagrra runs to Yeh Ren as EMTs take him out of the ring. They pump air into his lungs and bandage his neck. Kagrra cries over him. John Gone could not possibly look any more content.