Life 3: … of Devils

If Noé's usual walk to school was one often unbothered with little more than the occasional murmuring around him from other Kuoh Students, then today had to suddenly rank up into the worst ones ever. Because apparently Rias couldn't simply go ahead of him and arrive on her own, nope, she had to make absolutely sure they arrived at school downright side by side as they passed through the gates. And the reactions of the crowd were… Well, Noé certainly thought some of them were quite funny.

"Ehhh?! Lady Rias and Edelweiss?!"

"What?! Since when?! Did something happen the other night?"

"… I mean they look pretty good together don't you think?"

"There's no way! Isn't he a delinquent?!"

"But those are just rumors aren't they?"

"This is just like that thing I imagined one time!"

That last one certainly felt… concerning.

"Well, they're certainly fond of getting ideas, aren't they?" Rias chuckled, Noé shooting her a narrowed look. "Let me guess what you're about to say: 'They're only saying this because of you'… am I correct?" Rias chuckled again as Noé looked away with a grumble.

"You just like making a show out of this," Noé rolled his eyes as they entered the main building's foyer. He really wished he could just go in another direction, but yet again, he was cursed with being in the same class as Rias. "So what's the deal anyway huh?"

"Well, if circumstances had been different, I'd send someone to get you once classes were over," Rias said. "But, seeing as we are not only classmates but desk neighbors, things are far easier. All I ask is after classes are done, you come to the Occult Research Club room at the old school building. I'll explain everything I know about this… situation there."

"And let me guess, introduce me to the rest of your cohorts as well," Noé got a nod as he strode past, letting out a sigh. "Fine, since I wanna know what this is about. And don't bother trying to make me remember it. I've got a good mind for these things. I'm guessing your little club room would happen to be that building's former headmaster's office, right?"

"My my, you're quick to figure things out, aren't you?" Rias mused.

"You have to be in this line of work," Noé muttered. "Or else you end up dead."

Noé had to admit, the small bit of anxiety he'd been ignoring until now had started getting to him during class. He had far too many questions about what was even going on to even focus on the lessons the teachers were giving. What does dad know about this? Does this have anything to do with mom and why she's out all the time? And what the hell does this have to do with the Gremory clan? At some point he had just given up and feigned himself off as napping while trying to process things. The teacher tried to get his attention at some point but had given up once it became clear Noé wasn't going to respond.

He had to admit, part of it was because he let some of his normally repressed aura leak out. It tended to keep normal people away without much issue when he wanted it to.

And of course, it was as he was "rousing" himself out of his "nap" that Rias decided to tap his shoulder. Noé sat up fully, clearly not at all groggy. Rias feigned surprise as if she had thought he was napping, but it was quite clear she knew he'd been faking it the entire time.

"Oh, so you are awake," Noé rolled his eyes at the clear façade Rias had going. "Well then, you do remember what we talked about this morning, yes?" Don't give these idiots ideas… Noé scanned the room as some of the girls gasped in surprise, and the handful of other boys shot him dirty glares. Glares which Noé responded to with a middle finger behind his back.

"Like I said, I've got a good memory," Noé replied.

"Perfect. Well then, Akeno? Shall we show him the way?"

"Of course."

The girl who responded to Rias was just in front of her. If Noé could take the phrase 'Yamato Nadeshiko' and apply it to anyone in the school, the definition would fit her like a glove.

Himejima Akeno, the other "great big sister" of Kuoh Academy, and the definition of "Japanese beauty." Long black hair done up in a tail, and soft violet eyes Noé couldn't help but get the idea had something behind them other than her pleasant smile. And he also had to wonder what it was that, like Rias, gave Akeno quite an impressive hourglass figure. Must be a thing with Devils. He thought.

Noé had long assumed, with how often the two girls were together, Akeno had to be a Devil herself much like Rias, and by all accounts, likely one she worked closely with.

"My my, I was wondering how long it would be before you ended up around us, Edelweiss," Akeno said, her voice absolutely fitting her image of a gentle older sister type.

"It's a bit more complicated than that," Noé rose and gathered his things, again giving the now even angrier boys in the room a narrowed look, from which they very quickly cowered away as he followed Rias and Akeno out of the classroom.

The walk out of the main building and to their destination was quiet, but Noé knew the route. Behind the main schoolhouse, out into the woods bordering the different sports fields and gymnasium. Within those woods, a far older building that had served as the primary school house. The last few years of it being unused had resulted in ivy beginning to creep along the walls, but other than that it remained in good shape, though the old clock was now forever stuck at just a bit halfway past six, the last time it's bell had been rung before the new building had been constructed.

All in all, the perfect place for a group of Devils or other supernatural types to discreetly do what they would away from the prying eyes of the local humans.

"Of course the base of operations for you lot is one of this school's creepy ass seven wonders," Noé shook his head as a wry smirk split his face. Rias and Akeno only gave him their own amused expressions as they entered the building.

Noé was the slightest bit surprised to see the interior was far more well maintained than the exterior. The fashioning of the halls gave him Victorian impressions, from the rich woods and the velvet carpeting of the hallway. He could only guess why Rias would need so much space to operate in, but he could guess there had to be some purpose to some of the rooms in the building at the very least.

"So… can I just say a Devil running a club quite literally called the "Occult Research Club" sounds like something right out of a manga?" Noé said, Rias glancing back at him. "If anyone was wise enough to think about it seriously, it's one of the most obvious things in the world when you know about it."

"The club existed well before me and Akeno came here," Rias said, and Noé caught a hint of offense in her voice. "We merely revived it after it had been shut down. However, it does prove quite convenient to carry out our activities without scrutiny from the humans."

"… and yet your dad is also the administrator of the entire damn school."

"While true, there are some caveats," Akeno spoke up, "For one, as you can guess we have to carry out business that comes down to us from Lord Gremory. And Lady Rias has to continue her own studies under Devil education while staying here."

"So, it's also a super convenient excuse to do that," Noé gave a whistle. "I'll admit, I'm mildly impressed. Not much, but somewhat."

"Are you trying to be antagonistic about this?" Rias asked, a notable, but slight, twitch in her brow.

"Yes, yes I am."

Noé maintained the placid expression as they approached a pair of oaken double doors, on which a plague reading [Occult Research Club] was planted. Rias threw the doors wide, and Noé rolled his eyes at the obvious attempt for dramatics as he followed her and Akeno in. The walls, ceiling, and floor of the large office were covered inch to inch by runes and sigils. The center of the room had a prominent circular sigil marked on it, and in the center of that circle was a rose sigil that stood predominantly in it.

A couple of sofas and desks stood as furnishings within the space, with a more ornate desk at the end of the room with a large chair behind it. No need to guess who sits there. Noé thought with that wry smirk back on. He also spotted a curtain off to the side, raising his brow at it. Did they install a shower into this room? Noé decided he would not be asking questions about that.

And at one of the sofas, someone was already there to greet them. A small girl who one could perhaps mistake for a middle schooler were it not for her wearing the same uniform as Rias and Akeno, simply without the shoulder cape. Short white hair with bangs that framed her face, and bright golden eyes. The girl barely glanced away from her plate of youkan as she registered Rias' arrival. Isn't she… right, a first year. Toujo Koneko if I remember right.

Noé knew the basics about the small girl from the expected chattering. She was considered something of a mascot for the first-year students thanks to her cute features contrasting with her generally emotionless face and soft voice. Among the boys it was either admiration for how adorable they found her… or reasons Noé felt the need to report to the police over if ever they came up.

"Welcome back, President." Koneko quietly spoke, Rias nodding as she sauntered past. The small girl's eyes then turned to Noé. The question from her was obvious without any spoken words behind it to boot.

"Koneko-chan, this is Noé Edelweiss. He's a classmate of mine and Rias'." Akeno took the liberty of introducing him, to which Noé gave a small wave in response.

"Yo."

"Ah. Nice to meet you."

The mutual lack of words seemed enough of a greeting, as Koneko went right back to her snack without anything else. Noé raised a brow, only to hear the door open yet again.

"Oh? Everyone is here already huh?" a boy's voice chimed in.

Noé turned and immediately came face to face with a blonde young man. He also recognized the newcomer rather quickly. Kiba Yuuto, the most popular boy on campus (up to debate), and big favorite among his fellow second years. That were of the female gender anyway. Though also the kind of pretty boy girls for some bizarre reason think of guy-on-guy set ups whenever he's around one… when they're not projecting their own fantasies.

Noé quite honestly worried about the junior teenager whenever Tsuno went cackling on about what he knew the manga club got up to.

"Hmm? Edelweiss-senpai?" Yuuto said, prompting an annoyed sigh from Noé.

" You can drop the damn honorific," He growled, Yuuto just shrugging as he sat down on the same sofa as Koneko, "Aight, seems like that's everyone then. So… lemme guess, everyone in this room is a Devil."

"Correct," Rias said, "Everyone else in this room are, as you've guessed, are also Devils, and the members of my Peerage."

"Figures," Noé sat down on the empty couch with a bit of a flop, leaning on a hand as he looked at Rias. "Alright, let's cut to the chase, what's this about anyway? This… whole thing about me being some ward of the Gremory family?"

"It's something that came down to me from my father the other night," Rias said. "As you surmised, I had one of mine following you for the sake of observation. Koneko, to be precise," the white-haired girl nodded in affirmation. "When I got back to him with the information about your confrontation with the Fallen, he immediately advised me that you were to be brought under our protection. To be honest, he made the decision with such swiftness, it has still left me confused as to why. Thus, I personally can only assume you're someone of great import… isn't that so, Red Dragon Emperor?"

"Um… President?" Yuuto raised his hand as he spoke. "I thought Edelweiss was half-Devil."

"I am," Noé clarified, "I also happened to get lucky and get a Sacred Gear as well. A Longinus Class, as it so happens."

"But the odds of that would be…" Yuuto murmured, his eyes wide.

"Practically a miracle," Koneko stated.

"If you need a demonstration…" With a flick of Noé's arms, the crimson gauntlets flashed into form, and if the room hadn't already been surprised, seeing the items themselves achieved that with no issue. "As Gremory oh so handily stated, this would happen to be the Boosted Gear. Though obviously I made some… modifications to it. I guess the proper term would be this is my Subspecies version of it: Boosted Gear Myrmidon."

"My my," Akeno hummed, "No wonder those Fallens targeted you like they did. A lonesome half-devil could be trouble enough, but one toting around a Sacred Gear like that? I can only hope you sent them running for the hills from sheer fright, fufufu!"

And for why such a thing was so important, Noé had long been educated on that topic by his father.

Sacred Gears were items given to humanity by God, tools that could allow even a normal human to rise to the same level as a non-human and stand with them as an equal. They ranged all over in terms of their form and powers, some weak, some strong.

And the strongest of them all were the Longinus Class. These Gears were said to be able to allow one to 'overcome God and surpass the Devil', each one granting their holder access to incredible power. Only thirteen of these Longinus Class Gears existed, and unlike other types were wholly unique, only ever appearing in the possession of one individual at a time. And it was just Noé's luck he was born not only as a half-Devil but was in possession of one such Gear himself.

Calling Noé a "miracle" or perhaps "freak of nature" was quite fitting, he would admit.

"Ddraig, you going to say something, or gonna keep quiet?" Noé sighed when there was no reply, the gauntlets vanishing in red light. "Was hoping he'd do it himself, but fine. Guess I'm the one covering bases. If you know about that, you also know how that Gear was made, right?"

"With a shard of the soul of Y Ddraig Goch, the Red Dragon of Wales," Rias answered. "Considering the Boosted Gear is one of the most famous Gears known among the Longinus Class, it's near impossible not to be aware of it and its origins," Rias folded her arms, closing her eyes in thought for a few moments. "Alright then, it's my turn to learn something. Since you so clearly know about Sacred Gears, what of the situation of the world as a whole?"

"I'm not that out of the loop," Noé folded his arms behind his head, staring up at some of the markings on the ceiling. "Right now, the supernatural world exists in a strained idea of peace. Centuries ago, there was a massive war between the three Biblical Factions. It started off as Devils and Fallen Angels fighting over territory in the Underworld, but when that got dragged out into the Human Realm, Heaven felt the need to intervene, and it turned into a three-way melee that saw all sides torn to shreds. The Fallen Angels dipped first with the heaviest losses, and the Devils and Angels agreed to stop the war as both their sides were starting to lose numbers as well."

"Good, and what else?" Noé shot Rias a look when he could tell she was clearly hoping for a chance to jump in. "Perhaps about the Devils in particular?"

"Go on," Noé decided letting the girl have this one was less trouble than it was worth.

"As you surmised, yes, during the war we Devils faced heavy losses ourselves," Rias said. "The biggest loss being that of our rulers, Lucifer and the other three Satan-class Devils: Leviathan, Beelzebub, and Asmodeus. We are currently led by a new Four Great Satans who have taken on their names… but as you can easily guess, recovering from the war hasn't been a simple task."

"Well considering most of the Houses belonging to the 72 Pillars were either wiped out or lost their status for one reason or another," Noé said, Rias again looking mildly surprised he knew such a thing. "So, if the question and answer portion of the introduction is done, what's the actual plan? There's always a catch to things like this, so I'm assuming me, for whatever reasons there happen to be, being brought under Gremory protection isn't as simple as me going back to my usual routine."

"Again, you catch on quickly," Rias mused. "In short, I suppose while not a member of my Peerage, the directive I was given was to start mentoring you in the world a proper Devil engages in."

"Wait… you're not gonna have me doing newbie resurrected Devil crap like running around passing out summoning flyers are ya?" Noé's remark was added by him pulling out a small, folded slip of paper. A quick swipe unfolded the article, revealing a smaller version of the circle on the floor present on the sheet. "If I'm not mistaken, this is one of yours, right?"

"Well, you may be disappointed to hear that it will in fact be part of what you'll have to do. Since you're not an actual Servant I can't really do as I would if you were… but, you must start somewhere on the path to becoming a proper Devil, don't you? Working for a member of the House of Gremory isn't a bad start, if I had to say anything." Rias' tone was cheerful as she spoke, but there was a particular phrase that Noé felt ever so slightly irked by when he heard it.

"Ahhh, okay, first off Princess, let me make a bit of a distinction here," Noé stood up as he spoke, approaching Rias with a couple of steps. Her Servants also took more defensive looks, but Rias waved them down. "Let me make it clear: I do not work for people; I work with them. I don't care if this entire thing is because of stuff out of our hands, but don't for a second think this gives you license to boss me around, got it? And if I am going to deal with this, I want to lay some ground rules. Requests, we could say."

"Well I don't see anything wrong with that… as long as your requests don't cause me, or my servants, any trouble," Rias's tone let off that ever pleasant tone and air, but Noé was sharp enough to catch she was keeping something underneath it. It didn't surprise him. Devils were prideful by nature, and no doubt on top of this new situation, Noé deciding to all but undermine the authority Rias was trying to impose didn't sit well with her. She had the kind of expression where the mere slight quirk of her lip betrayed the annoyance underneath her smile.

And Noé felt quite smug about that.

"First, don't go ordering me around. I follow directions, not orders. There's a difference. Basically, just an add on to what I said earlier," Noé raised one finger, then a second as he carried on, "Two, I ain't just gonna roll over and take shit. If I'm working with you, I need it to be agreed upon that this is mutual. Think of it as a contracted agreement, Devils like those right? Though considering we both basically got thrown into this by your old man, seems we're in the same boat."

"That we are." Rias agreed, and Noé held up a third finger.

"Third: My decisions are my own, and I take responsibility for them. So, if I do something, anything, and you rag on me for it no matter who it effects, I'm taking it out on you," that statement again got the three Servants to suddenly go defensive, Noé glancing back at them with an unimpressed gaze, "Oh relax will ya'? I don't intend to hurt any of you for real. Just at least understand that I do things my way, got it? You have a problem with that, then take it up with me. I'll probably stick to my guns, but I'm open to negotiations."

"As I said, if what you do doesn't cause trouble for me or my Servants in too direct a fashion, then you're basically free to do whatever… so long as you help out. You did say this should be mutual right? Then in exchange for the added protection of being a, let's say provisional member, of my group, all I ask is that if I need the extra help, you assist me and my Servants in our Devil business."

"So long as it doesn't run into problems with my own business, fine by me," Noé put a hand on his chin as a thought occurred. "That actually makes some hunts easier… working with a Peerage to hunt down strays wouldn't be too bad an idea. Ah, right… just to ask, aside from protection, are there any other benefits I get out of this deal or are ya' just keeping people off my back?"

"Well, if you want, I could help cover any fundings you may face here and in the future. As you can imagine, we Devil families have the kind of funding humans could only ever dream of," Rias stated, folding her arms, "Good enough then? I feel like we've reached something of an understanding."

"Well, I can deal with money no problem… you know frankly I'm surprised a pure-blood like you isn't being more… I dunno, I guess high and mighty. I mean I am just a half-blood. Don't Devils have a big thing about heritage?"

It wasn't an incorrect statement. Noé's knowledge on proper Devil society may have been lacking (putting it lightly), but even he knew a half-breed like himself would be seen as… unwelcome in certain circles. A reincarnated Devil like the other three in the room? Tolerable, perhaps. But he knew enough about noble tendencies to have an idea of things.

"That's true in most cases, but I like to think of myself as above that," Rias's statement had its own smug edge to it. "I'm surprised that you're willing to negotiate though. Considering all the trouble your reputation follows, I was thinking you'd be less cooperative."

"I'm not an idiot. Besides, if I can see myself getting something out of this, then what reason do I have to argue, right?" Noé held a hand to Rias, who took a moment before putting her palm to his, "Ah, good, I didn't have to tell ya what to do."

"I can understand a physical form of agreement," Rias stated, "Just be aware I'll be calling in soon."

"Yeah yeah. You've got my phone number in your palm there."

Rias blinked as Noé turned away, finding there was indeed a slip of paper now resting in her hand. It seemed her new associate had a few extra tricks up his sleeve than she had assumed he did. Rias let out a chuckle, then cleared her throat. Noé stopped as he opened the door, looking over his shoulder.

"There is one more thing I would say needs to be done," Rias said. "You live with your father, correct? Well, considering the likely changes to your routine, it would be best if I accompanied you to help… clear the air, yes?"

Noé raised a brow, feeling just a bit confused by that. He looked forward, and as the realization began to set in, a truly devilish smirk split his face. Right, Rias doesn't know who my old man is. I forgot that for a moment. He thought. And as the idea began to roll in his head, Noé dropped the wild smirk for a more normal looking smile, but none could mistake the glint of pure joy in his eyes as he turned around.

"Sure, why not! I'm sure he'll listen to what you have to say, no problem at all."

Rias suddenly felt that, perhaps, she may have just made a bad decision for some reason.

While Noé certainly thought he could have some fun with surprising Rias on who his father was, he could add there was one potential wrench in the works to that. And it was the fact Van could be… absentminded at times. And with that absentmindedness came times where the man could accidentally end up linking the door to The Back Alley somewhere in their house that wasn't the normal office door. It was rare, but Noé tried his best not to take his chances on things.

So he breathed quite the subtle sigh of relief when he and Rias arrived at the front door and it was completely normal.

"Hey, I'm home!" Noé leaned in through the door as he opened it, wanting to be sure nothing was out of order as he entered. "And someone's with me."

"Pardon the intrusion," To Noé's mild surprise, Rias showed quite proper manners (by Japanese standards) as she followed him in, smoothly removing her shoes at the doorway as was proper. Noé leaned past the entrance to the living room, to his own surprise finding Van looking over some papers while the TV blared a random channel purely for the background noise.

"Oi!" Noé called, Van almost tossing the papers in the air as he noticed his son. "You didn't hear me when I came in?"

"Ah, what… ahem, no," Van almost spluttered as he sorted himself out, Noé rolling his eyes. "Sorry, I'm just going over some things and was a bit too focused on it. How was school?"

"School, that's about it. Though… someone decided she should tag along," Noé leaned against the door frame, Rias leaning in with a dainty wave. And it took all of Noé's willpower to restrain the urge to snicker as he spoke next. "See, she invited me to join her club, and just wanted to clear some things up."

"It's only to make sure things are evident," Rias sat down in a chair with well-practiced grace, smoothly adjusting her skirt as she lowered down. "Our club runs certain extracurricular activities, so I wanted to at least clear it up with his father."

"I see," Van shot a look over to Noé, catching how his son was starting to shudder from restrained laughter. "Well, as long as the club doesn't interfere with his part-time work, there's no reason for me to object to him taking on some extra activities."

"Oh, I wasn't aware he had a job," Rias seemed almost confused as Van looked back at his papers. "Though I can assure it won't get in the way. He's more of a… helper than a normal member." She also shot Noé a look as he covered his hand while looking away. "Edelweiss, is there… something funny?"

"Ugh, do forgive him for being this way," Van said, Rias raising a brow. "Since it seems you haven't caught on, Noé is messing with you, Rias Gremory."

"Eh?"

"Seems Zeoticus was right, you do get a bit ahead of yourself," If it were possible for someone to produce question marks above their head, then Rias absolutely had an expression on her face that said she'd be doing so about now, "Let me educate you on two things, Rias: First, it's quite rude to enter a man's home and proceed to try and use a charm spell on him merely to make a request of him. And two… you really need to be more aware of who runs which sections of this region."

"Uh… you said the name of my father…" Rias stammered. Noé was now doubled over trying to suppress his laughter. "You wouldn't happen to be…"

"Allow me to properly introduce myself and my son," Van set down his papers and stood, and the air around the man quite immediately changed. "I am Van Edelweiss, independent Sorcerer contracted to Zeoticus Gremory and current overseer to the third district of Kuoh Town. My son is Noé, the current holder of the Boosted Gear, and also my assistant regarding my duties in this territory. And it was me and Zeoticus who put together this plan for Noé to be brought under Gremory protection in the event outside forces ever targeted him.

"WHAT?!" Noé and Rias reacted at the same time, Noé's former mirth vanishing in an instant while Rias shot to her feet in shock.

"Is this what you meant when you told me to just go along with things this morning?!" Noé shouted, Van nodding. "WHAAAT?! Since when was this…!" he gestured to Rias to make the point, "Ever part of the plan of what the hell would go on in my life?! Does mom know about this?! I know she's not here much but she has to be involved, isn't she?"

"Well, while I say this was arranged by me and Zeoticus, the idea was not necessarily ours," Van admitted, only further confusing the two teenagers. "This plan was actually put into place a short time after you were born, Noé… by both your mother and Rias' elder brother."

"Brother was involved?!" Rias gasped. She bit a thumb as she looked to the side. "Seriously? Just what the hell is even going on if Brother has something to do with this? Just… who are you?"

"Oh nice to know you can look frustrated too," Noé bit. "And that just gives me my own questions as well! Isn't her brother freaking Lucifer?! What the hell kind of Devil is mom if she knows that guy?"

"I would quite like to know that myself!" Rias added.

"Some things are better left unsaid by certain people," Van said. He sighed when the two teens only gave him a stubborn expression. "If you want to ask Luna questions, do it the next time she's around. It's not my place to go talking about her situation even as her husband. Much as I try to involve myself she refuses to let me. I know enough to be satisfied though. Let's just say there's a reason we live here in Japan rather than a place with more supernatural activity."

"Definitely not because of my Sacred Gear, that's for sure," Noé griped, clicking his tongue as he folded his arms. "Fine. But then why the hell do I have to be set up as this girl's extra help?"

"You agreed to do so!" Rias objected.

"Doesn't mean I can't ask why."

"Because we figured if something like this did happen, it would also mean you'd be dragged into the wider world from then on," Van stated, sitting back down. "Rias has experience as the leader of a Peerage you lack, Noé. If becoming involved in this world more than you already are has become inevitable, then it's best you start learning from someone who knows the routines."

"You say that like you're expecting me to do something big," Noé muttered. "I'll learn from her, sure… but I'd like to at least keep my life sensible. Getting involved in all that crap with the nobility isn't my style."

"Well, I apologize for being one of them then," Rias scoffed, Noé glaring at her.

"And there's the haughtiness back on! What's the matter, Princess? Mad the new guy isn't keen on putting up with you?"

"I'm actually starting to rethink this arrangement. Had we not already made our deal, this incorrigible attitude of yours would make me second guess my father's decision. Honestly, you're such a rude boy. I can't believe you tried to set me up like you did."

"We're the same damn age smartass, in fact I think I'm a bit older than you," Noé's eye twitched as an aggravated smirk came to him. "And it ain't my fault you fell hook line and sinker for it! You didn't at all think my dad knew my deal, did you?"

"I considered it a possibility. For all I knew you had only begun expressing your traits as a Devil only recently."

"You think a guy who can make a Subspecies Gear would've done that recently?!"

Van rolled his eyes as the teenagers started getting a bit too into their squabbling, only ending when Rias decided to take her leave, and the entire way Noé was still trading barbs until she was out the door. Van only watched as the boy cursed and grumbled in annoyance, storming off to his room without another word.

"Ah geez…" Van sighed. "Luna, next time you get back I hope you can sort those two out… it's going to be troublesome if they keep this kind of attitude with one another."