X993

For his twenty first birthday Giovanni had decided to buy a bar.

Archer had done everything in his power to avoid the establishment for the past two weeks but when Giovanni called and demanded he bring the results of their latest cloning experiments (an utter failure, all they'd managed to create was an insentient purple goo) directly to him at the club the teen really couldn't find a way out. There was no way he'd ever disobey a direct order from his superior, so he begrudgingly made his way to and entered the loud, smoky and poorly lit bar. To be clear this club was definitely top class, suit and tie only, with expensive décor, and an infamously long list. It was frequently visited by the richest of Viridian cities elite, but none of this changed the fact that it was were people came to get drunk, something Archer was not a fan of. Not that he'd never drank before, that of course came with the territory of being a mobster and a killer, but dealing with other drunk people was not something he would ever choose to do.

He weaved his way through the tall crowds of teetering men and swaying women in heels much too high for their current sobriety and around the writhing mass on the dance floor to find Giovanni, as elegant as ever with a table full of less than elegant ladies.

With a slight bow he handed the file over and the man flipped through the pages. The women tittered as Archer waited impatiently for his dismissal.

"Aren't you a cutie?" One older woman cooed reaching out to pinch his cheeks.

At fifteen he still hadn't quite hit his final growth spurt (he hoped) and so he was still an unimpressive five foot four with an unthreateningly childish face, something Ariana never let him hear the end of. Still he managed to hold his tongue and not strike out at the obviously drunk woman as she continued to invade his personal space.

After a moment Giovanni grunted disdainfully at the result of the experiment and tossed the file down on the table before beckoning for a waiter to refill his wine glass. "Another failure." He sneered. "If this pokemon is really so strong, it's DNA should be able to support some stronger prototypes don't you think."

Archer took the opportunity to take a step closer to his boss, and farther from the handsy woman. "I don't think it's the DNA itself sir, it's the sample size, we need more information. I would suggest we reopen our search for-"

"This kid is TOO adorable!" A bleached blonde with smeared lipstick giggled. "Look at him acting all serious and buisness-y!"

Giovanni laughed raucously much to Archer's embarrassment. The teen could feel his face flushing despite his carefully neutral expression. "Perhaps we should discuss this another time."

"Yes." Giovanni nodded smugly as he raised his wine glass to his lips.

Grateful, Archer turned to leave before he heard his boss' voice calling out. "I didn't say you could leave."

Overall it was one of the worst nights of his life. Hours of being poked and prodded by overly perfumed, drunken women with running make up, being laughed at for his obvious discomfort, and ridiculed for his combined age and appearance. The only comfort he found in it was that Giovanni obviously found it all amusing. If he had to suffer, at least it was for the boss.

Still by the time they made it back to the mansion he still felt terrible. Giovanni hit him jovially on the back and left him at the executive floor before disappearing up into his higher private levels.

Archer trudged down the long plush highway impatient to get back to his bed and sleep off the awful night.

"You ok Arch?" Petrel's head appeared, almost floating in the dark, from his cracked doorway.

"Fine, and don't call me that."

The tall figure fully emerged. "Well I know you really didn't want to go to the club, but you out all night."

Archer sighed, forfeiting his attempt to make it to his bed, he was too tired to argue with the talkative man. "Giovanni wanted me to stay."

Petrel walked over to where the teen stood and sat down, patting the carpet. "And?"

Archer took the chance to sit gratefully and pulled his knees to his chest. "It was nothing really." he began but found despite the inconsequence of the nights embarrassment he really wanted to talk about it. "There were these women and they were all laughing at me…" After lamenting full story of the club's ridicule Archer rested his chin on his knees. "It was all stupid, but it was still embarrassing."

Petrel's hand came to rest on his back. "It's ok Arch, that stuff happens to all of us."

"Don't call me that-"

"When I eight I was already five foot."

"What?" Archer scoffed.

"I know." Petrel nodded solemnly. "It was pretty horrible. Everyone treated me like a middle schooler and I was really confused. One day the bus actually dropped me off at the wrong school and-"

Archer moved to stand up, eager to escape a long-winded story. "Thanks for listening, but I'm going to bed now."

"Wait." Petrel hopped up quickly. "The point is, everybody's body is different."

"That was by far the least helpful advice anyone has ever given me."

"I'm not done." He pouted before continuing. "We're all different and it's nothing to be ashamed of, use it to your advantage. Besides you're still growing, things are gonna change, I still grew over a foot after my awkward eight year old years. Well I guess all of my years were awkward, I used my abnormal height to sneak into the middle school's production of Cinderella, I was the prince and it was the best-"

Archer cut him off quickly, but with a hint of respect for the first time. "Thanks Petrel… that was actually kinda helpful."

Petrel swung an arm around the teenager's shoulders. "That's what friends are for Arch."

"Don't call me that."

Archer and Ariana were awoken the next morning by ridiculously loud and fast series of knocks. The teenaged girl groaned angrily and kicked her companion. "Answer it." She commanded and he gracefully rolled out of the bed to comply. He made his way across to the door.

"Good morning!" Petrel stood out side the door with a cheery smile and a pink box.

Ariana sat up with a livid sneer. "I'm. Going. To. Kill. You"

Archer rolled his eyes and stepped out the door, closing it behind him to continue whatever Petrel wanted in the hallway. "What do you want?"

"I brought donuts." He opened the pink box to reveal an assortment of sugary dough.

For once Archer was legitimately unsure how to respond. Sure Petrel had always had a strange thing for donuts, but he hadn't brought them as a gift since the day they first met. "Why?" He asked mystified.

"Because only thing more healing than late night talks are morning donuts."

He paused an stared the proffered breakfasted, before accepting and taking a small plain circle. "Thanks Petrel."

"Anytime."

This chapter was pretty sweet, with the ending and all. Petrel is the best person to go to for personal help… and long stories about his life… and donuts.

Giovanni likes watching other people suffer, what else is new?