A.N.: Submission to the April Challenge for The Artist's Zone forum. There needs to be way more fanfiction for this ship, they are so precious together ❤ So I decided to take matters into my own hands and make it happen. I haven't gotten over that one scene in G-Revolution.

Also, special thanks to balsamfue on Tumblr because I got inspired by her Barthez Battalion DnD headcanons and also THANK YOU BIG TIME for the art that is now the cover. Full credits to balsamfue/fueart on tumblr.

Names/team names switch between English/Japanese versions according to what I think sounds better (after all, Dark Bladers is a much cooler name than Team WHO).

Monsters in Paris

"We shouldn't be here. Let's just go back.", he protested.

"Shut it, Raul. Just keep following me."

The rooftops in Paris were as beautiful as what he had seen in the pictures, but each minute cemented to Raul Fernandez that he wouldn't ever want to see them from anywhere other than their hotel window. He tried to not give in to his vertigo as he looked at the City of Lights from up there. It had been Julia's idea to take that route, every step on the roof shingles feeling like one step closer to a death sentence. Raul and his sister had amazing balance thanks to their circus training, but there was no safety net if they made a mistake now.

"Can't we just ask Mathilda instead of spying on her team?" Raul complained. "I don't feel good about this."

"Don't be ridiculous, if she's in trouble she would never tell us." Julia disregarded his protests. She was determined to get to the bottom of their little spy mission, regardless of the danger. Her mind was set on the fact that the former-Barthez Battalion team was up to something, and the rumours that were running around during the new European Tournament only festered in her mind as every horrible scenario possible. Raul was convinced it was just the Majestics starting drama because they were still bitter about the last World Tournament qualifiers. After all, why in the hell would Mathilda's team be hanging out with the Dark Bladers at night?

Raul obeyed her and pressed on, knowing that her newfound saviour complex had a very specific reason for existing. He saw how Julia looked at her pink-haired friend, with glistening eyes while twirling her long hair around her finger. Or the many hours she spent on her phone texting her and sending her pictures of every single thing she did. It was so cute that it was annoying. Julia, the one who had always been so focused on perfecting her craft, had her brains turned into mush over that girl. He didn't need any twin telepathic powers to know that.

"It should be that one." Julia pointed at an open window, corresponding to the instructions to arrive at Claude's chambre de bonne given by Romero. It was late, but the lights were still on in the apartment, making Raul's stomach turn at the thought of Julia's fantasies having some type of confirmation. Lively voices came from the inside, but what they were saying was still indistinguishable given all the traffic noise. They had to get closer.

Julia stepped carefully near the edge, getting as close to the open window as possible, crouching to make sure she and her brother wouldn't be seen.

"Fools, you fell into my trap." A deep voice rumbled inside. "You won't get out of here alive! There's no escape!"

Julia shot a worried glance toward Raul. But deep inside her eyes, even in the dark, he could recognise a small spark of victory that his sibling had every time she was able to prove that she was indeed right. He hated it.

"Besathrath, we are going to defeat you and finish your evil reign." Miguel had a very recognisable voice, so the gossip they have been hearing over the opening games could be true.

"Well, it's too late… You have awakened my undead army." The evil voice continued. "Prepare for battle!"

Raul watched Julia carefully, knowing that her quick-witted nature would take over at any moment but not knowing what to do to stop it. And he was proven to be right, as she leaned in close, whispering her next words. "I'm going in. I need to save her"

"Julia, wait!" Raul reached to stop her, but with a single swift movement, Julia had jumped inside the apartment. Typical. He had no choice but to follow her, as he had always done.

Whatever scenario Julia had created in her mind, Raul was sure that it wasn't that.

Sitting in a circle on the wooden creaky floors of the cramped apartment, familiar and indeed very bewildered faces: Miguel, Claude, Mathilda and… Sanguinex from the Dark Bladers. What could they all be doing together at that hour, perched over papers and with strange-looking dice?

But Julia didn't give her mind time to analyse anything. Instead, she prepared her beyblade inside her launcher. "Show me who this evil Besathrath is and I will defeat him!"

Her brave entrance echoed in the awkward instilled silence. The quietness was long and dragged out until Miguel couldn't contain himself anymore and broke into loud laughter, soon to be followed by the others in the room. Even Sanguinex, who was known to be a massive edgelord, let out a chuckle, breaking out of his usual Lord of the Night façade.

Julia had never seen Mathilda laugh like that, loudly and carefree. The situation they were in was confusing, but for a brief moment, time stopped. Mathilda's smile just moved something inside of her. Her pink hair had grown quite a bit since they last saw each other and was tied in a tiny ponytail, revealing the pointy ears she was wearing. Julia could only think of one thing. Mathilda just looked so pretty.

Red-faced, Julia looked around finally coming to her senses and feeling the waves of embarrassment wash over her. She quickly hid it under a layer of acted anger. "What the fuck are you guys doing? And with Sanguinex of all people."

Miguel was the one to answer, clearly displeased by the underlying accusation. "Sanguinex is our friend and had been invited in, unlike you." He finally noticed Raul hiding behind his sister, raising an eyebrow at the sudden knowledge that the weird situation was probably part of Julia's scheming. "Don't you think you should explain yourselves first?"

Julia's feigned animosity slowly faded away as she sensed that she would have to admit her defeat. "I heard some rumours about you guys during the tournament. I thought you were in trouble"

"We both know this is the type of thing the Majestics would start because they don't think we should be allowed in the tournament." Miguel sighed, annoyed at the general situation that the Majestics had started.

Claude was the one to finally bring the explanations. "We aren't doing anything weird, we are just playing Dungeons and Dragons."

Sanguinex shrugged. "You can blame me for being an amazing Dungeon Master."

Rushed footsteps followed them down the stairs as they left. A known shade of pink popped up from the top of the steps, shouting Julia's name.

"Julia, are you mad at me?" Mathilda asked, tears starting to sprout in her eyes.

"What? Why would I-"

Before Julia could finish her sentence, Mathilda jumped in her arms. "Why didn't you just talk to me? It is as if you couldn't even see me up there."

She was too stunned to react. Mathilda backed away from the impromptu hug.

"Don't you trust me anymore?" The question caught Julia unprepared.

"I was just too scared" Julia finally replied, her words coming out rushed and louder than she expected. "When I heard the Dark Bladers were involved, I thought you were in trouble again. I know everything you went through with that Barthez coach. I would never forgive myself if I let something happen to you ever again!"

A tear streamed down Mathilda's face. "I know how to take care of myself."

Julia's heart sank at the sight of her friend crying. "I'm sorry. I know I should have asked you first."

"I should have told you about this." She continued. "I was just scared that you would have thought that I was lame, nerdy and…"

Raul worried that Julia would just freeze and never move again, but instead, she tucked Mathilda's pink hair behind her pointy ears. "They make you look even cuter."

Mathilda turned beet-red while Julia pulled her back into the hug. She smiled while she sank deeper into Julia's shoulder, her rosy cheeks now matching her hair. Raul tried his best to mouth the words to Mathilda.

Get.

The.

Girl.

"J-Julia?" The pink-haired girl fought her pounding heart to speak. "Would you like to join us for the next session?"

Raul was relieved to be coming into the building through the door this time. He wanted to scold Romero when they went to the hotel, but their coach was nowhere to be seen the whole day. The only thing to greet them in the morning was an odd envelope left at the reception with a blue wax seal.

Inside, written very flourished calligraphy, a cryptic message. "Dear adventurers, we would like to welcome you back at the tavern tonight. The kingdom seems to be in danger again and you're the only ones that can help us."

Alongside it, was the address to the apartment they had visited through the window the other night. So there they were, now formally invited to the event and knowing that they should fact-check the Majestics next time.

The biggest surprise of them all was how much into it his sister seemed to be. They were informed that didn't need to come dressed up, but Julia's mind went into a fashionista mission as soon as she started working on her character with the help of Mathilda. When his sister wasn't performing in the circus, she would be backstage helping with the costumes, so it was no surprise that she could whip up her bard's costume in little to no time. Raul had been dressed by his twin like a doll, hearing all sorts of insults between gritted teeth if he dared to complain.

Of course, her motivation didn't stem from dressing like a fancy bard, but rather from getting to spend more time with Mathilda. And her effort paid off since the pink-haired girl was at a loss for words when she greeted them at the door.

"Whoa." Mathilda's jaw dropped open at the sight of her friend. "You look amazing."

Raul watched as his sister panicked at the compliment. She was fighting a battle harder than yesterday's battle against the Demon Lord and his undead army. He exchanged a knowing look with Miguel and Sanguinex.

Mathilda got herself caught in a trap in the forest. Stranded from her party, she could only hope that someone would succeed in the perception check to see the small trail leading to where she got stuck.

Julia was the only one with enough wisdom points to roll, and she quickly reached for the dice. Her knuckles brushed lightly against Mathilda's arm in her rushed way to save her. The remnants of the warmth lingered at the points where their skin touched, and Julia's heart somersaulted. They briefly exchanged a look, and only one thing went through her mind as she launched the die.

Staring longly into Mathilda's eyes, her mind screamed: I see you, Mathilda. I see you.