Because we all struggle...? idk how to title anymore
Shark was left in a pretty dark place after the finals…
And so was Quattro, but in a different way.
A/N: This one's set a bit before canon, and a small part is off-screen in the canon.
I hope this fic kinda sets up how they are when they're first introduced in the canon. Also, there's going to be one other person at the end.
Enjoy!
S
He didn't think he was in a great place at the moment. It didn't look like it, either. Shark wasn't fooling anyone when he said he was fine.
Q
He was in a great place in his life!
If you only looked at the surface. And a lot of people did. Great for them.
S
Rio would always be there for him.
She hadn't understood why he'd cheated, or been banned, or how he even was in the position to cheat in the first place. But she'd been on his side. Disappointed, suspicious, and unconscious. And trusting that Shark was trying to work it out, and that he could work it out.
Her, and that teacher, Mr. Kay, who always seemed like he wanted to say something to Shark, and noticed when he didn't show up to class or blew off homework but managed to barely pass tests.
And, of course, he'd always have Quattro. Who hurt his sister and ruined his pride. Without him, Shark might not feel so lost every day.
Q
He would always have his brothers. And Vetrix, kinda.
But he had to duel, alone, and deal with fans, alone. He easily made other friends in the business with his charming and fun personality, but he knew they probably wouldn't last. He wondered if they knew this. He wondered if his fellow celebrities were actually horrible people inside, like him.
Probably not.
And he'd always have Shark, in a weird way. Because Shark was the turning point, when Quattro proved his loyalty to Vetrix over Thomas and boosted his own rise to fame.
S
He dueled for himself.
Quattro had taught him that.
He'd duel for Rio, if she ever needed, or if she asked again, if she trusted him to not crack under the pressure again. But she was at least on track to a full recovery, and she could handle herself after that happened. But that was it. Himself, and Rio, because the rest of his family was either dead or lived thousands and thousands of miles away and were the same as strangers to him.
People who challenged him, looked at him wrong or underestimated him, they knew this fact well. Because their decks belonged to him now. No one else.
Q
He dueled for his fans.
After all, that's what being a crowd favorite does to people.
But he made time for himself, too. He dueled against his fans in a random system, let loose his growing hunger for destruction.
It started out with people who hadn't done the greatest things or made the best choices in life. He called it justice. They were starstruck after meeting Quattro, and especially after he'd offered to duel them. And they were so, so excited after they thought they were winning at the beginning. They were considerably less so when they were crushed into dust, shocked of Quattro's savagery. But it was fine. It was fanservice, and it grew.
His fans always came first.
S
Quattro made time for people. He was gracious and charming in public, and there was practically no unlikeable part of that public persona.
Shark hated it. He hated seeing Quattro's face everywhere. It was bad enough he was on track to being the Asian Duel Champion. Even worse? Running into some crazed fan with Quattro's face in hearts. Quattro didn't deserve any of this fame. And Shark felt like he was the only one who knew it.
(... Although he might deserve some credit for dealing with those wackos.)
Q
Shark was aggressive and callous when he felt like it. He wasn't in the news anymore. He didn't bounce back, never made any speeches or tried to people please.
Some days, Quattro idly wondered what it was like to be a loser. Someone who wasn't paralyzed by the media. Lucky, in a way. Free. But probably also weak. He'd just crumble again, Quattro thought maliciously.
V
At another time and place, Vetrix giggled in delight.
The anger was oh so plentiful! More than a year of mutual hatred and little lies to themselves-yes, Quattro and Shark had themselves a most exquisite hate relationship. It was beautiful, just like 69 would be when he called upon it, using all the abundant anger he'd reap to control it. And to imagine, he had so many other energy sources besides Shark and Quattro! His other two sons, and Kite, in particular. They were all pawns, in the end, to help him end Faker.
A/N: ...and there we go. surprise? i hope i kept everyone in character. vetrix was kinda fun/wack to write.
btw, school is starting too soon, so i prob won't be updating much, if at all. and if i am, that means i'm procrastinating on essays, so feel free to call me out.
idk if labeling each section is helpful?
lemme know :)