At this point, Kenny shouldn't have been surprised when the fight began to break out, it was routine at this point. The tension obvious in the group, even in the best of times. The divide was clear, between him and Cody, Tama always on Cody's side, and really, the Bucks always leaned towards Kenny, though they tried to be fair. Marty hated it though, he hated the conflict, and always wanted to resolve it.
It was physical, and shoving, as they screamed in each other's faces, and he saw red, and when the hands went to go grab him he shoved back.
It wasn't often in Kenny's life that he felt instant regret. He always went through the same patterns of doing something irrational and spontaneous, and later on after overthinking, or dealing with the consequences that he began to reflect that it he shouldn't have done it. But the second he turned around to see Matt on the ground, cradling his lower back, regret washed over him like a wave, hitting him all at once. He just shoved Matt, his best friend. Matt who was already hurting. They had always been there for him, through it all, and where did Kenny have the right to push him like that? Even if he was undeniably pissed at Cody, and even if Cody deserved it, Matt didn't. What hurt most, wasn't the anger that painted his face, it was the surprise, and genuine hurt that both him Jackson's were sporting.
They left, and Kenny felt the anger draining out of him as he watched them walking away. He still wanted to strangle Cody, scream at him more, tear him apart, but it was as if the energy in him was drained all at once, and now he just wanted to leave.
Marty walked away, telling them to "work it out" and Kenny mumbled phrases to them trying to make sure they were good, he just wanted to be out of the ring at this point.
He should have seen it coming.
When he was being grabbed, and the arms wrapping around him dragging his body for the move, he wasn't surprised, yet he hardly flailed or fought it as he head was being smashed against the ring.
Clutching his head, he rolled there as he listened to the bodies that re-entered the ring, Marty angry that this is the direction it went in, and Hangman there. And Hangman had him, as Cody grabbed the chair.
What Kenny hates the most was that he knew he deserved it, that he had it coming.
And in all irony, like some saving grace, like an angel, Kota came running, and the others were pulling away from him, and getting out of the ring. Within a matter of time, they were gone, and Kota was leaning over him, offering out his hand to help Kenny up.
Yet he was still Kenny Omega, and he was stubborn, and he refused to accept the help as he pulled himself up, only fr him to be forced to look at Kota's face, and his still outstretched hand.
He couldn't, he couldn't between Kota's face looking so pained, his heart clearly on his sleeve, as after all this time, after everything that he held his hand out still offering himself to Kenny. It wasn't to pull him up off the ground anymore. And that irrational part of his brain wanted to say that Kota was mocking him. Because why was Kota doing this? Him and Kenny didn't have to do anything anymore. And he highly doubted that Kota felt like he needed to repay Kenny for him saving him several weeks ago. So what else could it be, besides that Kota couldn't laugh at him and prove that Kenny isn't as good off as he said he was, that he really wasn't better that Kota. What else could it be than to burn his ass, prove that he needs Kota?
But he knew Kota, as much as he would try to forget, and he knew the pain on his face, and as Kenny stood there, he really let himself think, why wouldn't he want to hold Kota's hand? He was afraid of touching him, his heart still hurting from how normal it had seemed to rest against him those several seconds at the G1. He didn't want to hold Kota's hand because Kenny always was a selfish man, and he knew that if he held Kota's hand that he would want more, need more. And he didn't deserve that.
Then Kota was turning away, but there was no denying the tear that rolled down his cheek as Kenny wouldn't take his hand.
Kota couldn't help but let his mind wonder, why wouldn't Kenny just take his hand and get over his own damn pride? Was he still going to go back running to the Bullet Club after all of this, after they just unofficially booted him out? Kota was offering himself to Kenny, was he really going to leave him again?
They've been playing this back and forth between them, but where else could he do? All they have done was share moments that made things feel more complicated, and it hurt. How much more of that would they have?
"You are nothing to him"
But he knew his Kenny was still there. If Kenny didn't care, he wouldn't have let that moment happen at all at the G1, even if it was short. If Kenny didn't care, he wouldn't have saved Kota. Why couldn't Kenny just see? See that Kota wants things better? That Kota wants him? They had things to fix but god Kota missed him too fucking much to let Kenny slip away again, he wasn't going to, and he promised he would make things happen in 2018.
This new wave of frustration caused him to push Kenny back against the ropes, and to just stare at him. And finally, Kenny got what he wanted, Kota's arms wrapped around him, fingers digging into his back, as he didn't hesitate to wrap his arms around Kota's neck to pull him impossibly closer.
All Kota could do was cry, cry as he clung to Kenny, and buried his face into his shoulder just wanting to feel him, he missed this feeling of home, of feeling like this is exactly where he belonged.
Because this was where he belonged.
In Japan, in the ring, and in Kenny's arms.
