"Here, take these speakers."

Charmy watched as Vector took out 2 giant speakers, and set them in front of him. "Just play loud rock music in the speakers, and that'll tick Espio off!"

"Hehe! Okay boss!" Charmy dragged the speakers out of the room. "This is fun!"

Charmy dragged the speakers into the living room, making sure he wasn't too loud. Slowly, he set them right behind Espio, who was meditating.

Charmy grinned, popping in a rock CD. He turned the volume up to the max, before pressing the play button and flying out of the room.

Espio was peacefully meditating, but literally screamed and jumped up as soon as the music blared through the speakers behind him. "WHAT THE—?" He turned around, and saw the speakers.

Slowly stepping up to them (literally getting blown away from how loud the music was), he finally managed to reach the power button, and turned the speakers off.

Espio sighed with relief, but clenched his fists. "This is beginning to test my patience..." he growled to himself. Recognizing that those were Vector's speakers, he added, "I'm gonna have a talk with that clown later."

He sat down once more, attempting to meditate.

BEEP BEEP BEEP!

Espio shot up once more, and threw a kunai knife out of reflex. It stabbed right through an alarm clock that happened to be in front of him, cutting off the noise.

"I...don't know...how much longer I can TAKE this!" Espio shouted, to no one in particular. He decided to give up on meditating, for now, and needed to take a walk to blow off some steam.

He headed towards the front door, before he felt someone push him to the ground.

"Whoa—HEY!"

The figure didn't stop there, though. It lifted Espio off the ground, throwing him into the closet and shutting the door, locking it.


Vector was in his office, looking through one of his drawers, before he heard the door open.

"You figure out anything else yet, Charmy?" Vector asked, not looking up.

Before he knew it, he was slammed against the wall, a shuriken star just inches from his face.

"WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME?" a voice growled.

It took Vector a few seconds before realizing that it was Espio's voice. Shocked, he stared at the chameleon, who had slammed him against the wall.

"E-Esp? What's up?" Vector squeaked.

"I've been trying to keep calm all day, but these constant annoyances have been TESTING MY PATIENCE!" Espio shouted.

"What did Charmy do?" Vector whispered.

"What did Charmy do?" Espio repeated. "WHAT DID YOU DO!? WHAT WERE YOU THINKING!?"

"I'm not following..." Vector slinked down, intimidated by the chameleon's sudden outburst of rage.

"2 hours, you had me locked in that closet. 2 HOURS!" Espio yelled, towering above him.

"What! I didn't do it—honestly!" Vector raised his hands defensively. "It was Charmy, probably—"

"DON'T. LIE TO ME." Espio spoke in a scary voice, through his gritted teeth.

Terrified of Espio's expression, Vector began to regret coming up with this plan in the first place. He always knew that Espio was claustrophobic, but didn't know he hated it THAT much!

Vector opened his mouth to say something, but it turned into a squeak. "I-I didn't do it!"

Suddenly, he caught Charmy passing by his office. "Charmy! Tell him I didn't lock him in the closet!" he shouted.

Charmy glanced at them. "You locked him in the closet? How could you? Don't you know he has claustrophobia?" he replied, before shaking his head and flying away.

"STOP ACTING INNOCENT YOU LITTLE BRAT!" Vector screamed. He faced Espio once more, who tightly gripped the shuriken star that was close to just about stabbing him.

"C-Can't we just settle things without violence?" Vector grinned nervously.

"You know what, Vector?" Espio spoke in a calm voice, which scared Vector. "I've been working with you for all these years, and I've put up with everything you've thrown at me: your crappy attitude, your arrogance, AND your insults. But you know what? I am NOT some doormat that you can walk on and make fun at every turn! I have just as much feelings as everyone else, and I do NOT appreciate it when you don't respect that, and continue to make my life MISERABLE!"

At this point, Vector was laying on the ground, and Espio was towering above him.

"Do NOT mistake my silence for weakness, because I can slit your throat before you can so much as blink." Espio gave him the most deadly glare.

If looks could kill, Vector would definitely be dead.

"Remember that, next time you try to make me angry on PURPOSE." Espio backed away, and Vector's mouth came wide open.

"WHA—? HOW—? YOU—?"

"I overheard your conversation with Charmy," Espio stated blankly.

Vector face-palmed himself. Espio was a ninja, after all.

"Gee...I was just experimenting! I seriously didn't mean to tick you off that badly, Esp! I'm truly sorry! I'll make it up to you, I promise!"

"Good. You can start by cleaning up Charmy's mess." Espio turned away and walked out of the room.

The fact that Espio went from angry to calm, just like that, scared Vector. Vowing NEVER to make Espio angry again, he bolted out of his office to go clean up Charmy's mess.

Slit my throat... Vector shuddered, shaking away the "pretty" picture in his mind.