A/N: Heyo!

This one's a lot shorter than the others, and it's only a two-parter. The split in the middle will also be a smol time lapse that conveniently fits their duel with Kurage/Chironex in it :)

Also, the ending sentence was kinda inspired by a fic i recently read called remember who i used to be (—who i am?). I mean, not that much, but I thought it was a good fic, so go read it for IV and Ryouga moments. I mean, if you want. I'm not gonna outright force u? okay imma stop rambling now

Enjoy!

It's good to see you, Reginald.

One thing Quattro would never say out loud, though he'd thought it since he heard Shark's voice from the back of that old mansion.

Because Thomas knew if he actually said it, he'd make it sound sarcastic and mocking instead of genuine.

Which wasn't exactly what he would be going for. Being genuine to Shark raised red flags for both of them, anyway.

Because it'd been too long since he left Heartland.

And knowing Shark was still alive and less hateful and as stupidly stubborn as ever was good news to Quattro. So he meant it. And if he said it aloud, it would instantly lose its sincerity.

Because Shark was strong, and arrogant, and insecure sometimes.

Like himself. And if he said it, Shark would see right through him. He'd see that Quattro cared, and ew, that was something Quattro didn't want keeping him up at night.

(Although him actually running to where Shark was might've already been a big clue.)

So he went with something that was purposely fake and cliché to greet Shark-no, Reginald-as Quattro finally saw Reginald from the roof of the mansion.

How's it going? Long time no duel, Reginald!

For a second right after their win, that was all Shark wanted to say.

Thank you.

Because he'd been thinking a lot about their last duel in the WDC.

And Shark realised how easy it could've been for Quattro to shift blame to his abusive and manipulative father for what happened to Rio. But he never did. Because Quattro wasn't a coward, and he had been done letting his father control him.

Because Quattro had come back.

Which meant that the Arclights cared, and there were allies for Yuma who could fight against the Barians instead of Shark. Because Shark didn't trust himself, not anymore.

Because there was no way he would've finished that duel without Thomas.

He had definitely underestimated the throbbing, mind-numbing pain that came from Chironex' poison. And Rio might've been lost from the same poison. Because Quattro looked beyond Shark's pride and saw Reginald.

But Shark had this stupid thing called pride, and he opted for silence and a half-smile. Besides, Quattro knew him well enough to know what he meant.

… And Quattro ruined the moment with, "I hope you took notes on how a duel's supposed to be played."

Um, as if? Shark was just as good, if not better.

But he did worry a little less as he bantered with Quattro. After all, Rio was safe. He'd just won a duel. And saw a not-actually-friendly-but-not-unfriendly-so-he'd-take-it face he hadn't seen in a while. Quattro reminded him that he was Reginald "Shark" Kastle, not an alien, something Shark didn't think he needed this badly until his own identity crisis.

A/N: i hope you enjoyed! let me know what u think :)