Chapter 5: Totally Not An Anime

The blaring of the alarm was possibly the worst way for Silvia to wake up. After the patrol that her and Chat Noir had gone on the night before (their third now), she wasn't sure it she would be able to face the day as her full self. As she forced herself out of bed, she let out a loud yawn. Today was going to be a rough day.

She walked out of her room and to the bathroom to get ready. Today was just going to be another boring day with school work and the betting match for Azure and-

With wide eyes she spit out the toothpaste that was in her mouth. "Oh my god how could I forget?"

"Forget what?" Tikki asked, flying into the bathroom.

"Today Azure is doing that bet against Bates!"

"Is that bad?"

"Yes! If Azure loses, he's going to have to pay a lot of money to that guy." She sighed and washed her face. "I may have to leave earlier than I thought to see if he's okay before the game." She patted dry her face.

"Then we should head out soon!"

"Definitely." Silvia rushed out of the bathroom and got ready for the day.

The good news was that Silvia had finished her homework last night. Now she didn't have to worry about rushing to do any and could head straight to school. When she went down to the kitchen, she was surprised that her brother wasn't down yet. Usually he was here every morning before she was. Now, it was just an empty kitchen with her and Tikki. She quickly grabbed a morning macaroon for her kwami and a bagel with cream cheese for herself before heading out into the streets of Paris.

Azure was not okay, not even a little. He definitely should've gone to sleep earlier. But instead he'd stayed up all night, practicing. Viridian had let him borrow his Switch, and now Azure could destroy the level nine CPUs. But he was nervous. Bates was good, or so he'd heard from nearly everyone at school.

Despite his efforts to continue to keep his head low, people still came up to him throughout everyday to tell him that. They never seemed to have anything else to say, just that.

Well, that's not entirely true, Silvia wasn't that way. She was never that way. He may spend most of his free time learning the game, or patrolling with Ladybug, but talking to Silvia at school was something else. She didn't do it because they were partners, or because she had to, because she wanted to. And it meant everything.

Azure stuffed Viridian's Switch back into the container and zipped it shut. He tossed it in his bag and a muffled yelp told him he'd hit Plagg.

"Hey!" The small creature shouted as he exited the bag. "What was that for?"

"I told you to stop sleeping in my bag!" Azure told him as he shook his head.

"Well I didn't listen." Plagg pouted as he zoomed over and sat on Azure's shoulder.

Azure chuckled, grabbed a pencil, and put it in his pocket. "That's on you, bud."

"Oh I also ran out of the fancy cheese." Plagg complained.

"I just got you more last night at Viridian's."

"I ate it all."

Azure groaned. "Why?"

"Well you didn't tell me not to."

Azure rolled his eyes and slung his bag over his shoulder. "I have to go, come on."

"Fine fine, but you better get me more." Plagg ordered. The small black cat zipped back into Azure's bag.

Azure glanced over to Damian's bed. Damian had left almost an hour before Azure had even waken up. To say the least, it didn't put his mind at ease.

Azure made his way down the stairs and out the door, avoiding his house mom on the way. The streets were still wet from the piles of leftover snow that had been plowed overnight. Faint patches of dark grey slush were streaked across the roads, once pure snow now turned to mere dirt by thousands of cars. The sky was a dull drey. It fit his mood.

Azure walked, taking back ways and short cuts he'd learned as he explored the city with Ladybug. They cut his time to school in half, which just meant he could sleep in more, which he did.

As he walked into school he knew immediately that everyone was watching him. How could they not be, after a whole week of telling him he was going to lose. He tuned them out, focusing on trying to find Viridian. He had to give back his Switch, they'd be using Bates's. He finally spotted the blonde hair of Simon, which meant that Viridian would be close.

Azure walked over, and found that he'd been correct. Just out of sight of where he'd been sat Viridian playing on a Switch, Simon next to him writing in a notebook. Azure frowned slightly. Didn't he have Viridian's Switch?

"Hey, don't I have yours?" Azure asked, pointing at the Switch In Viridian's hand. Viridian looked up, confused for a moment and then smiled and chuckled.

"No, this is mine. You have yours."

"I… what?" Azure asked, completely lost. Viridian rolled his eyes and sighed dramatically. Simon set down his notebook he'd been writing in. Azure was momentarily distracted by its contents, or lack thereof. The pages seemed to be empty.

"I told you he wouldn't get." Simon said in his monotone. Azure hadn't seen the boy express any emotion or semblance on emotion. He was starting to wonder if he ever would.

Viridian shifted and sat up straight. "I'm giving that one to you." Azure looked from Viridian to Simon several times, slowly putting it together. Viridian was giving this to him? "As a matter of fact I forgot to give you these." Viridian said pulling out a doc, charger, and extra controller.

"I don't get it. Why are you giving me this?" Azure asked.

"I don't need them, dearie. I've got way too much. So you take that one, and I'll have this one." Viridian said, brandishing the Switch in his hand. Azure open and shut his mouth, unable to vocalize his thanks. Viridian seemed to get it though, giving him a knowing nod.

"About time!" A voice called out. Azure sighed, and exchanging a slow look with Simon and Viridian, turned around to face Bates. He stood across the way, a Switch Case in hand. Damian stood just behind him. "I've been waiting."

Azure swallowed hard, trying to embody a little of Chat Noir. "I've been here for like, five minutes."

Bates's didn't seem affected by the comment though. He strode forward, his swagger undeniable, right up to Azure. Azure stood firm though, his gaze strong. Well, as strong as he could muster.

"Hello Bates."

"Heya Blue, are you ready?" Bates asked. Azure grimaced and opened his mouth to speak. "Don't worry, I understand. This is a very big deal."

"Shut up."

"Rude. I mean, it can't really be that big of a deal. Fifty dollars isn't that bad, is it?" Azure clenched his jaw, trapping his words inside. Bates is right. For most people, fifty dollars isn't much. But he can't buy anything for himself, not even a hamburger at McDonald's. "Oh, maybe I was wrong. Well hopefully you won't have to pay up then, hm?"

"I said shut up." Azure snapped, unable to contain it any longer. Bates just smirked.

"I'll see you then, after school." He paused for a moment, a thought seemingly crossing his mind before he discarded it. "Bye now!"

"Don't." Viridian said as he laid a hand on Azure's shoulder. Azure glanced over at the boy. His green eyes reflected boredom, which wasn't what he was expecting.

"Is this the part where you tell me he's not worth it?" Azure asked.

Viridian grimaced nastily, his entire face sour. "Oh he's definitely worth it. Just wait for the game."

"Viridian's right." Simon said, stepping forward to them, slipping his notebook away. "Do not fret. You will win." Azure repressed a smile. Simon was always right.

Bates could barely contain his excitement. The money wasn't the goal of course. Damian would get that, he was the one who needed it. Something about freedom and whatever. Either way Damian refused the direct help he offered, so instead he'd come up with the little scam. After all he would never actually hurt any of the people who owed him money. The key was to make them think they did. It was just as effective.

He just wanted get another person to owe him. The more people who owe him, the more power he holds within the school. He could never get Simon, Viridian, Silvia, and a couple others. They aren't stupid enough to fall for the trickery. This boy however may be his in to getting them. And that is very exciting.

Bates knew he'd win. Viridian may have been training that blue boy for the whole week, but it didn't mean a thing to him. It would take… well it would take Viridian to beat him.

In fact Bates was so excited for the match as a matter of fact, that he couldn't focus on school. Luckily one of the people who owed him was rather smart. Not as smart as Simon or himself, but passable.

Soon the match would start, and Azure would lose. There was no way for him to win. Not with how he played.

"Why'd you tell him he was going to win?" Viridian asked. He, Simon, and Silvia were sitting at their table for lunch. Viridian had been forced to wait till lunch to as his question since neither talked in class for some stupid reason.

"Tell who what?" Silvia asked, frowning over her sandwich.

"Simon told Azure he was going to win today!" Viridian said.

"You said that?" Silvia asked. Simon simply nodded, which pulled a smile from Silvia. "That's great! That means he's going to win, right?"

Viridian shook his head. "See this is the power you have, Simon."

"I know." Simon responded.

"You shouldn't abuse it, dearie."

"I know."

"But you did."

"Yes."

Silvia clears her throat, pulling their attention. "What the heck are you guys talking about?"

Simon nodded just a little bit. "Bates will win."

Silvia gasped. "What?"

"Azure isn't good enough." Viridian said as he ruffled his hair. "We spent all week on his training. He's pretty good. But there's a reason Bates is where he is."

"Damn it!" Silvia shouted, several people looked her way and she shrunk down. Viridian repressed a chuckle at her behavior. It was rather amusing. "So it's hopeless?"

"Not necessarily, Azure does have a chance. Just a rather slim one." Simon stated.

Silvia balled up her fists. "I hate Bates."

"Most people do." Simon said blandly.

"I can't hate him." Viridian said. It saddened him, but it was a true statement. The comment earned the desired confused look from Silvia though. "We're too much alike. The biggest difference is he doesn't see it."

"You aren't the same! You're nice!"

Viridian pulled a face. "I didn't say we were the same! I said similar. Learn to listen dearie."

"Oh don't dearie me." Silvia warned, her smile giving her away.

"I'll do what I please." Viridian said warmly. "Dearie."

"You BITC-"

Being alone was safe. Or at least that's how Azure had always seen it. No one can hurt you if no one is close to you. The whole day had gone by without any unnecessary conversation. Well minus the one in the morning. Just a lot of staring. Which he could handle.

The game though, he was still worried. He wanted to talk to Silvia about… anything really, but she was always talking to Simon and Viridian. So he had started to remind himself that he preferred being alone.

Noir has taught him that people tried to make friends for two reasons. To take advantage of you, or cheat you. Azure was a competitor at heart. And this may not be his sport, but that doesn't mean he wouldn't win. Bates was just a punk ass kid, he would win.

Bates had told Azure that they would play in the game room the school had. So he'd say in it all of lunch and both breaks. He was trying to get used to it. The game room had a TV (where he assumed they'd set up, so he'd practiced on it with his new Switch), a pool table (no idea how to play pool), ping pong table, dart board, and bean bags. It was dark but still welcoming, which was definitely the goal they'd had when they designed it. Azure liked it, for whatever reason no one came in there during lunch. Maybe the dark wasn't welcoming to everyone? Either way he enjoyed it.

And that's where he was waiting. No one else was there yet, even though school had finished ten minutes ago. It was odd, everyone seemed excited about it, they should be here by now. Azure fiddled with the characters, knowing he was going to win, because he had to.

Furthermore, as Chat Noir, he's obviously a protagonist of something, so he should have plot armor. And plot armor meant he would win. Suddenly ,there was a knock at the door and Damian came inside. "Hello Azure."

"What?"

"We're waiting for you." He said. Azure frowned, waiting for him?

"I'm here, where is Bates?"

Damian leaned on the wall, seemingly attempting to mimic the way Bates acts. "He's in the courtyard waiting there."

Azure's eyes widened. "But he told me here!"

"Too many people want to watch. We're going to be out there." Damian said, waving his hand. Azure growled and grabbed his bag.

"Don't have a choice, do I?"

"No." Damian replied simply. Continuing to growl Azure made his way to the door, but stopped right next to Damian.

"I'll give you another black eye if you aren't careful." Azure warned. Damian blinked and his smile faltered.

"You wouldn't-"

"Watch me." Azure said as he leaned in close. Damian fell back from him, Azure however turned away then and made his way out of the room.

And there he was. Bates sat in front of a portable television, his switch attached to it. Damian was right though, there was a good twenty or more people sitting around to watch. Azure saw Silvia sitting there, she looked worried, which left him with a warm feeling. She was supporting him. She cared.

No, stop. He couldn't think that way. Solitude was safety. He could do this by himself. He always did and he always would.

Azure made his way down the stairs watching Bates. Bates had yet to notice him, and instead of watching back was fiddling with his controller. He had another out and was doing something with it as well.

"Bates." Azure said roughly. The boy in question turned his head away and sneered up at Azure.

"Hello there." Bates said. "I was wondering when you'd get here, we've all been waiting."

Azure's gaze hardened. "You said the game room."

"I did, and I'm sorry about that. But as you can see," Bates gestures around the courtyard. "We have far too many people to fit in the small game room."

Azure took a calmly in take of the cool air. "Why do they have to watch?"

"So they can all see with their own eyes who wins. That way we can't spin the story."

"Do you think I'd lie about it?" Azure asked, knowing he wasn't hiding how insulted he was by that. Bates however clearly didn't care.

"Now we don't have that option." Was the response Azure got. Something that did not please him. Azure knew he didn't have many options though and sat down next to him, pulling out his own controller. "Oh, you have your own?" Bates asked.

"Yes." Azure hissed, annoyed by Bates's surprised tone.

"Well Blue, I'm impressed, I didn't think you could afford that." Bates said simply. Azure growled and connected it to Bates's Switch without comment. Bates tossed the remote he'd gotten out for Azure back into his bag, and Azure repressed a smile. He'd gotten one up on the boy, and that could change the whole battle.

Bates went over to the selection screen but stopped before going to the character selection. "Do you want to be player one or two?"

Azure frowned slightly thinking. It seemed like a normal question. But part of Viridian's training was him outsmarting him constantly. Viridian was smarter than Simon in some ways. At least strategy. People underestimated the boy in green.

The question was a simple one, which meant it didn't have a simple answer. Why would it matter who's player one or two? The color perhaps? No that wouldn't change anything. Then what?

Azure looked over at Bates and saw the controller and realized the controller was a red herring. That didn't determine the default controller settings, but the name did. Bates must have messed around with them. Both most likely just to be safe, but in different ways. He wanted to make sure he had a clear upper hand. Then the answer was clear.

"I think I'll just make my own name." Azure responded. Bates blinked a few times, seemingly taken aback. It pleased Azure to outsmart the boy for a second time in only a few seconds.

They went to the character selection screen (after choosing three stock and no items on Final Destination). Azure quickly typed his name in and picked Toon Link. That's when he heard the first scoff.

"Toon Link?" Bates asked. "Okay then."

"What's wrong with Toon Link?" Azure asked, taken aback. Viridian had said he was good.

"Oh nothing. He's just a low tier is all." Bates said simply, selection Richter. "An odd choice."

"He's fine." Azure growled. But a small itch formed in the back of his mind. Was Toon Link inferior? He seriously hoped not. No actually it was going to be completely fine. This was about skill, and he could outplay Bates.

With the character selection done, Bates shot Azure a small smile and pressed the start button. It was on.

The moment the go disappeared Bates launched a boomerang of sorts. Azure quickly responded with an arrow, nullifying the blow and charging forward to slash into Richter. Azure got to him, and unleashed several attacks, then hit him up and into his up B, spinning around and dealing lots of damage quickly. Bates seemed to fumble next to him, then got out and used the boomerang again. This time it connected, and before Azure could recover Bates had sent a blue flame at him. The damage built up, and Azure mashed trying to get out, but instead Bates hit him with this whip thing, knocking him backwards.

"Damn." Azure muttered, flicking the movement toggle and jumping forward. That's when an axe came arching forward and connected with Azure, dealing way more damage then he was expecting. Bates followed the flying Toon Link, hitting him again. Azure grit his teeth and let loose his own boomerang, followed by a bomb and then landing and letting go an arrow into the fallen Richter. Azure pushed the small character forward and slashing with the sword. Bates had Richter roll away and get up, launching another boomerang attack.

Bates was good, but he wasn't as good as people had been saying for the whole week. Azure's confidence was raising the longer the fight ran on. Neither had managed to knock the other off yet, finally the Toon Link landed perfectly and Azure saw his opening, slashing immediately, and sending Richter flying. The explosion notified them that Azure had gotten the first kill and the crowd muttered in surprise.

Bates didn't hesitate in jumping back in, but was in his groove. He jumped over Bates's attacks, and sent multitudes of projectiles flying. Many missed, but it kept Bates away and forced him to move more cautiously. Azure, however had no such issues, and was landing blow after blow, bouncing around Bates's character.

Azure glanced momentarily at Bates and saw a repressed anger in his eyes. It made him very pleased. However his momentary distraction cost him, and Bates got several blows in, which sent him to the edge of the screen. Azure fired an arrow to keep Richter back, then caught the edge of the stage, flipped up, and slashed out. Richter bounced a few times coming up just in time to get smashed by Toon Link again, which launched him off the stage and out of the game for a second time.

"No." Bates snarled loudly. A few people shifted in the audience and muttering broke out. Azure could see Viridian smiling as he lounged. Viridian had taught him well.

The brief break ended as quickly as it had started. Bates had regrouped, and he was flying.

Bates seemed like a whole new fighter. The way he moved was completely different. It was fast, tactical, and dangerous. Azure couldn't land a blow anymore, even though he was fighting as hard as he could. And he'd lost a stock now.

Azure shot an arrow, Bates dodged it, shielded against the follow up slash and blasted Azure off the screen. He was down to one stock now as well. Things were tight. They were both at zero percent. But in only a couple seconds Bates had tied the game. He was as good as people said. Azure had been played. Hard.

Azure let his character sit in the respawn section for a few seconds, catching his breath. "It's over, Blue."

"Don't call me that." Azure snapped. He just received snide laughter in response.

Azure had to win, he couldn't owe Bates. He tightened his grip, and his eyes seemed to become more focused, like he could see every small movement in slow motion. It gave him time to respond to each of Bates's attacks, and return them. The fight evened back out, the two of them exchanging attacks and avoiding them with incredible skill and speed.

Somewhere in the back of Azure's mind it occurred to him he'd tapped into his new abilities, but right now all he saw was the game. Bates was amazing, but he wasn't seeing the game like he was. Finally he saw the perfect opening, and Azure side smashed right into him, his controller vibrated and Richter exploded off of the stage.

"YES!" Azure shouted, he'd won! He'd done it! He could feel his pulse returning to normal as he smiled in relief.

"Ha! Not yet!" Bates said happily, but his gaze was hard. Azure did a double take, and his heart sank. Richter had landed back on the stage. It wasn't over.

Azure quickly tried to strike with Toon Link, but it was too late. He'd given up his advantage. Bates slashed with the whip, and the screen zeroed in on the contact before Toon Link zipped off the screen, an explosion of energy coming from where he'd gone. Now it was over. And Azure had lost.

He'd lost.

Lost.

It was over.

"I…"

"Lose. Yep Blue, you do." Bates said cheerfully. Azure looked up, his chest heavy with dread. "I'll be waiting for my payment."

With that Bates got up, and left Azure to sit there, numb to the world. He was vaguely aware of people standing and talking around him, but he didn't look at any of them.

Where was he going to get the money? Fifty was more than he'd ever had in his life. He'd have to try and find some job. Or something.

Azure struggled to his feet. Everyone had gone. Except Silvia, Viridian, and Simon. They stood there, worry on their faces. Viridian opened his mouth, but he didn't want to hear it. Azure took a step back, and then ran off from them.

He needed to figure it out. He'd lost.

Viridian turned to the other two. "Now what?"

"Maybe I should go check on Azure," Silvia spoke up, pushing off of her seat.

"Given that he just ran away from us, I don't believe that's the best course of action." Simon responded.

She sighed, sitting back down. However, her eyes still didn't leave the path that Azure had taken out. "I'm just worried. Bates screwed him."

Viridian flopped down again. "Yeah well, were we really expecting a different result? No matter how hard we tried?"

"I was."

"I suppose any of us could pay the amount to Bates." Simon offered.

Viridian chuckled ill temporarily. "Somehow I feel like this guy has too much, I dunno, pride."

"Bates has the pride of an elementary school bully," A random voice popped up from behind them. A girl with dark brown hair stood with her arms crossed in front of her chest. Viridian had no idea who it was. So he did what he always did when he didn't know something, he turned to Simon.

"Who's this?"

"Kaia Meyers, she's in our class." He said dryly.

"Really?" Viridian asked, looking at the others.

"Oh, I recognize you," Silvia responded. "It seems like you have a grudge against Bates."

She scoffed with a roll of her eyes. "Grudge is putting it lightly."

Simon flipped through his phone. "She, like many people, also owes Bates. Along with a few of your friends."

Kaia lowered her arms and placed her hand on her hip. "I took Bates up in a bet so I could get my friends out of their debts. I thought I had him outsmarted, but I'm sure he cheated."

"What's that thing he always says?" Viridian's asked.

"He says he never technically cheats, just bends the rules."

"In a way, that can be seen as cheating," Silvia pointed out.

"Thank you! Finally someone agrees with me!"

"Either way, what are we going to do?" Viridian asked them all. "He holds the power."

"Do what I've been trying to do," Kaia replied. "Find a way to strip him of his power. I may not have been able to do it, but maybe you three can."

Simon nodded in agreement. "Well, perhaps if Viridian would agree to participate, we could pull it off."

Viridian frowned, knowing that despite the hard look he'd get from other people. Simon was tired of his refusal to help. "Hey now, we've had this discussion."

"But maybe it could help," Silvia urged, looking at Viridian with softer eyes.

"Okay, so I challenge him. What's the stakes? He's not an idiot. He knows my ability. He'd be ready." Viridian said.

Silvia paced the path in front of the steps, deep in thought. "Then what if I learn to take him on? Develop my own skill. He doesn't know me."

Kaia blinked. "She has a point. Viridian could make the bet, and then Silvia could fill in at the last possible second. It would throw him off entirely."

"Possible. But we'd need to be careful in our wording of the bet." Simon said. "If we don't word it correctly, Bates wouldn't allow for a sub. We'd need room to allow it."

"And how can we do it in a way that Bates can't 'bend the rules?'" Kaia added air quotes around the words, clearly disgusted by the phrase.

Viridian raised a hand. "And keep in mind. Anything we put in to trick him, he can use."

"So we need to make sure that it's something he isn't the best at using." Silvia stopped in place, rubbing her chin.

"Well if we put in that we can sub, he could at the last minute." Simon pointed out.

Viridian waved a hand. "I'll teach her to play against Damian as well."

Kaia stood up straight in realization. "Viridian, how good are you at faking?"

"Ask your dad." Viridian replied lied with a wink.

"I don't know what that means." She blinked.

Viridian opened his mouth to respond but Simon cleared his throat. "It's inappropriate." Simon told Kaia.

Silvia waved it off. "You'll get used to it."

"Alright then."

"The point," Viridian said heavily, "is that I'm good."

Kaia grinned devilishly. "Perfect. Because I have the perfect plan."

Viridian reclined where he sat. "I like plans."

"Are you going to leave us in the dark?" Silvia asked.

"Maybe." She glanced around the area. "But maybe we shouldn't do it in an open place like this."

"Your dad also said that." Viridian said with another wink.

Silvia's face dropped and she elbowed him hard in his side. He shot her a cat-like grin and continued to lounge.

Silvi quickly coughed as if something had just caught in her throat. "I'm open for suggestions as to where we can go," she managed after the spell had ended. Viridian gave her a look as Simon spoke up.

"My house is open." He offered blandly.

"Great." Silvia grabbed her backpack off the floor. "Then let's go. We have some scheming to do."

"Good job. Thanks." Damian said, a forced smile on his face. Bates looked over and smiled at his friend. They were sitting together at a rather nice restaurant. Bates was paying, of course, Damian couldn't afford something like this.

It was their tradition. After every successful con, they'd come here and eat. It was also his way of getting more money to Damian. They played those little children games they provided in the kids menus, making small meaningless bets. Bates purposely lost, and Damian got more money.

Today though, Damian didn't look in the mood. He rolled his eyes and sat straight. "What's the matter?"

"I dunno, I just feel bad." Damian muttered.

"This was your idea." Bates told him. "I wouldn't gone after Blue if you hadn't come to me."

"I know, I know." Damian groaned. "It's just, now that we're here, I've realized that he's the same as me."

"He's a short black haired guy?"

"I'm not short!"

"Okay shorty." Bates said, smirking playfully. It was a much different smirk than the one he used for everyone else. Well, one other person got the nice smirk. Though, now that he thought about it, she might not know it was a nice smirk.

Damian smiled despite himself. It doesn't last long though, as it dropped away. "No I mean, he's just as poor as I am."

"Okay about that. You should have a few hundred dollars by now. How are you poor?"

Damian huffed, crossing his arms. "You know I'm saving it!"

"Right, for something important. So why feel bad?"

"I'm just imagining if it was me. I couldn't pay it." Damian said. Bates nodded and took a slow sip of water.

"I could always let him off the hook you know. Allow him a pass do to… oh I dunno, shenanigans." Bates offered.

"Shenanigans?" Damian asked blandly.

Bates rolled his eyes. "I'd come up with something better by the time I'd tell him. The point is, I could let him go."

Damian sighed, and banged his head against the table. "I need the money though!"

"As much as I'm sure you'll hate hearing this, I could always help you pay for whatever it is."

"Bates I've told you, this is on me! Oh, don't mind our arrangement, because I help! But I won't just take a pay out."

Bates shook his head. Another thing Damian had in common with Blue: unyielding stubbornness. Neither will allow the people close to them to help them pay their debts, or whatever it is Damian needs help with. He watched as his friend lightly bumped his head against the table over and over again.

"You've never told me what you're saving for." Bates said carefully. Damian immediately stopped banging his head. He looked up cautiously.

"It's for freedom." Damian said evasively, repeating what he always told him. Bates knew better than to push. Whatever it really was, it was best left alone, for now at least.

"Okay okay, just, eat your steak." Bates said. The conversation drifted away as they ate. Bates didn't stop watching Damian, though. The boy was conflicted and agitated. And Bates was worried.

Azure skidded to a halt in an alleyway. His breath kept catching and releasing in short bursts. This had all gone to hell. He was going to win, because he had to! And now he'd lost it all. The game, and everything else. He could try running away, though he was sure the system wouldn't look too kindly on that.

Groaning he punched the wall, screaming until his throat couldn't take it. He was going to punch the wall again when something tugged on his shirt. He turned ready to fight, but saw Plagg. The small Kawaii floated there, a worried look on its face.

"You have to calm down!" Plagg shouted.

"I messed up! I lost!" Azure screamed through his pained throat.

"I know!" Plagg shouted back.

Azure blinked. "Not helpful!"

"It's just that, you have to calm down! Or you could be akumatized!"

"I- what?" Azure asked startled.

"You remember the Destroyer? Yeah that could happen to you!"

"But I have you!"

"I don't protect you against- oh no!" Plagg whispered turning around in the air. A small purple butterfly was flying towards them. "You have to calm down now!"

Azure blinked. He couldn't be like the Destroyer. Shutting his eyes he took a slow breath, letting go off his anger and problems. Very slowly he felt the stress drift away. Opening his eyes he came face to face with the butterfly. It fluttered there for a moment, then flew up and away.

"That was too close." Azure whispered, shuddering.

"It's not done yet."

Azure groaned loudly. "What next?"

Plagg turned dramatically down the alleyway. "It's going to find a new host. We'll need to be ready."

"You should do theater."

"Ah, a play about cheese. Beautiful."

Azure chuckled. "Exactly what I was thinking." Looking down the alley way as well, his smile dropped slightly. Time to suit up. "Plagg, Claws Out!"

Author's Note: Finally back with a new chapter! It's been a really long time, but hopefully for anyone who does keep up, it'll be worth it! Another huge shout out to Stitches04 for the amazing help on writing this chapter! Go read her work!