Matt Miller sits in a holding cell, his face bruised, and bloodstained. His forehead looks swollen after having his head wound surgically repaired. A police officer approaches and unlocks the cell door.
“Good news, kiddo, you made bail.”
“Seriously? Who is it?” Matt asks.
“The hell do I know? Asian guy, very serious looking.”
Matt stands up, wincing in pain.
“Thank God.”
He follows the officer out of the cell and into the main area of the police station. Red Dragon stands at the front desk, face like thunder. When he sees Matt, he just turns around and starts walking out. Matt hurries after him after picking up his personal possessions. He tries to match Red Dragon’s strides but his Sensei doesn’t appear to be in any mood for small talk.
“Sensei, I-“
“Chinmoku! (Silence)” Red Dragon cuts him off. He turns to face him.
“You do not get to talk, Matt-kun!”
“If I can just-“
Red Dragon just makes a grunting noise more than actually forming any cohesive words but the force and volume of his voice is enough to instantly silence Matt.
“You have risked everything, Matt-kun! Everything Butch-san and Wisdom Sama worked for, that you worked for! You made me look foolish and you’ve potentially risked your job let alone getting whatever match you wanted with Maniac. What the hell were you thinking?! You could’ve been killed! Michelle and Sarah could’ve been killed! When I told you to make a home invasion, I didn’t mean to literally turn downtown Chicago into a bloodbath!”
“I understand why you're so angry, Sensei, I didn't think it through. All I wanted to do was get my hands on Maniac, Sensei. I knew I had to do something drastic to get his attention and I thought it was worth the risk.
Red Dragon sighs, rubbing his temples.
“Look,” he starts, “I can almost understand wanting to send a message. But what you did, by coming back to the arena, putting everyone in danger just for the off-chance you could get your hands back on him?”
Red Dragon holds his arms out in a questioning manner.
“I don’t know what the hell was going through your head.”
“Sensei, may I speak?” Matt asks.
Red Dragon stays silent for a moment before responding.
“Hai.”
“You told me to embrace the demon, Sensei, to go to a place he didn’t think I could go. He thought I was nothing more than you and Butch’s lapdog. I know there’ll be consequences for my actions and I will face them head on, so I will. But now he knows, Sensei. He knows what I’m capable of. I evened the playing field. And it’s the same with everyone else! The veterans have all came back and think they can just pick up where they left off and piss over what we’ve built! Deas, Maniac, Fallen and Legion. If we don’t stand up for ourselves, what’s the point?”
Red Dragon sighs and almost nods.
“We just have to work on damage control now, Matt-Kun. You’re grounded until I say otherwise. You are not to interact with, speak to or even address Maniac until Butch decides how he wants to handle this. No matter how much he tries to push your buttons or get your skin. Am I clear?”
“Yes, Sensei.”
“Good. Now come on, you’re coming back to my hotel. You need to take a shower, you smell like shit.”
He turns to look at Matt, almost allowing a smile.
“Tell me something, Matt-Kun.”
“What, Sensei?”
“How did it feel to beat the shit out of that little cretin?”
Matt doesn’t say anything. He just looks at Red Dragon, a knowing look in his eyes.
“Good….good. At least there’s one positive to come out of this shitstorm…”
Fade to black.
Message Thread
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