Okay, I know it's been one of the longest wait times for an update on this fic. And I'm aware that this might actually be the shortest chapter I've written so far. Look, man... I don't know what to say. XD

I just flew back home today, I'm definitely backed up on updating this fic, getting to reading some and such.

Alas, nothing much to say as I'm quite beat from the week, so please feel free to leave a review, it really helps the motivation which has been a little hard. Until then, I will catch you all later!

Chapter 16

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A long, awkward silence had fallen among the Pokemon in the basement. They had all come down the stairs now and stood in a circle, with Gilbert still knocked out against the wall a little outside it. As they entered, Todd and Bendy revealed themselves to be in the room as well, standing a little away from the cloud of uncomfortability.

Nolan and Iris felt, perhaps, the most uncomfortable about the situation, and kept themselves as pressed against the wall as possible in order to stay as far away from the storm that was brewing in the middle.

The Sawk was the first to break, walking up the Axl without the worried or angry glance on his face. Instead, he had a look of intense relief as he pulled Axl into his arms into a hug.

"Axl…my son…it's been years. I was getting worried." Erin thought he looked like a parent hugging his child.

Axl flinched at first before returning the hug his old Guildmaster had initiated, a wave of sadness washing over his face.

"Son?" Erin asked.

"Well, not biologically, of course," The Sawk had broken the hug and glanced over at Erin. "But all of the members in my Guild are like my own children."

Ceren scoffed obnoxiously loud and both Pokemon turned their heads to face him.

"Even the ones that run away, apparently." He retorted, sounding as cold as he looked.

Axl raised his brow, looking nonchalant once again. "So, is that going to be a "no" to catching up over lunch and a movie?" He asked, causing Ceren to glare angrier at him.

"Gent bent." He hissed.

Axl shrugged. "Your loss. What about you, Sergei?"

Sergei curled his lip. "I told you, it's Deputy Marx." He growled. "Unless you forgot."

Axl didn't respond, but looked away and Erin couldn't help but wonder if there was something more behind those words.

"Will you all knock it off?" The Sawk said sternly, making all three sweatdrop nervously.

"You're Guildmaster Ortiz, right?" Erin asked, forgetting about her own situation as she was very, immorally, hooked on the drama unfolding in front of her at the moment. "I've seen your photo before!"

"Oh, they still mention a washed up geezer, like me?" He laughed, walking up to her with a bow. "Yes, I'm the very one. Although, please just call me Nero, I disdain pretentious titles like 'Guildmaster'. I'm no more special than any of my children."

Ceren, despite his bad mood, gave his Guildmaster an admiring look. "Oh hush, pops. We wouldn't be nearly as powerful if we didn't have you as our Guildmaster."

Nero closed his eyes and turned back to his Guild and ex-guild member. All three looked away in shame again and Nero sighed very loudly as he walked in between them.

"It's been two years, Ceren. You two were like brothers at one point, life's too short to spend it fighting one another."

Ceren returned his glare to Axl, causing the otter to stare instead at the far wall.

"I will never forgive him for walking out on us." He said sharply.

Nero sighed and glanced at his other member. "Sergei?" He asked.

Sergei said nothing, but gave Axl a reproachful look. Axl scratched his nose and Erin felt a wave of emotions towards him as his emotions seemed to bounce in between hesitance and his usual nonchalance. She wanted to ask more about the situation, but she knew it wasn't an appropriate time for her to speak up.

Shaking his head, Nero instead shifted his attention to Gilbert and smirked in pride. "Judging from it, it seems at least you haven't lost your edge." He commented simply, giving Axl a rather amused smirk.

Axl scoffed, flicking his finger. "Erin, did most of the heavy lifting, I simply was backup." He lied.

Nero returned his stare to the Snivy and walked close enough to examine the wound on her face. Erin saw the wisdom in his eyes and the age in his slightly wrinkling face. He looked much older than her own Guildmaster. His cold touch on her cheek made her flinch a little from the strength she felt hidden behind it.

"You," He ordered, motioning to Nolan who remained tensely silent. "Get her patched up right now, Gengar poison can cause nasty infections if they aren't treated properly." Nolan responded with a nod immediately and zipped his way upstairs to grab a medical kit.

Nero didn't break his intrigued stare. "You did well to survive, young one." He said with a solemn tone. "I remember Axl being severely wounded from his fight with Gilbert the first time around. You remember that, boy? Your wound got so infected you had the shits for a week."

Axl cringed slightly. "Worked better than any diet I've been on, I'll say that." He retorted, unashamed.

Nero didn't break character. "Still, I lost many friends to the 'Redfield' name. Even Axl, someone much more seasoned than you, was pushed to his limits the first time they battled. That takes immense potential for a rookie to do, even if you did get hurt."

Erin blinked, astonished at the praise she was receiving from him. Part of her was bummed, because she didn't feel accomplished whatsoever due to the fact she lost. Secondly, even Gilbert himself said he wasn't as strong as he used to be, so she didn't even fight him at his best.

An obvious cough further made her disappointed, as Guildmaster Finnegan stepped forward.

"A shame she don' know anythin' abou' followin' rules. We need 'o address de elephant' in de room, Nero." He pointed out darkly.

Erin gulped as his glare was pointed down at her, freezing her to the spot. Her words were catching in her throat

Todd, who glanced around looking oblivious, was doing a count. "A snake, otter, bear, scorpion, rat…Is Sawk supposed to be an elephant?"

Bendy gave him a sideways glance. "It's called a metaphor, you buffoon."

"What's a metaphor?"

"You know how we say getting the stupid out of you is like getting pee out of a pool?"

A glare from Guildmaster Finnegan silenced whatever response Todd was going to say, and both Pokemon fixated their attention in the opposite direction of each other.

"Sir…"

"Wha' was yer specific mission, lass?" He interrupted, sounding level.

Erin gulped. "I thought it would be faster if we did ask the scouts first." She started. "The nature of the mission felt timed, I didn't want to risk anything."

Axl had become invested in her situation now. "Wait, why would you want her to bring me back, if you weren't going to even be there?" He asked.

Guildmaster Finnegan glanced sideways. "I was goin' 'o have Kameron grill him." He replied, causing Axl to go a little white. Erin could only wonder what methods the Sharpedo would use on his friend.

"Sir, I really don't think Axl has anything to do with it."

"I really don' care wha' ye think." He spat suddenly, and Erin recoiled. "I gave ye a mission an ye disobeyed me. Tha' will ge' yerself killed in this world."

Erin tried to say something to Guildmaster Finnegan, but stopped herself as the words tumbled away from her tongue. The weight of her inevitable consequence weighed her down and she closed her eyes in suspense as she knew what was about to happen next. What made it even more ashaming were the eyes of everyone in the room on her.

Guildmaster Finnegan stepped up to her, looking emotionless. "I warned ye wha' would happen. I'm 'aking Axl 'o de Guild and ye will no' be with us, I don' need anyone doin' their own thin'."

The crushing blow of his words made Erin go a surprising type of calm as the knowledge of knowing his decision made acceptance easier and she bowed her head in shame. Reluctantly nodding, she wanted desperately to run away from the heat of the stares she was feeling in the room.

Still not betraying any emotion, Guildmaster Finnegan motioned to Axl. "Axl, we are headin' ou' now." He ordered, with both Todd and Bendy looking relieved to be out of the situation.

Axl looked comically conflicted, his hands clasped around his own head as he seemed very uninterested in Guildmaster Finnegan's decision. "Hmmm, sorry about that, geezer, but I think I'll stick to looking for Karl on my own. Doesn't feel right without Peridot City's finest, after all!"

The Bisharp looked at him incredulously. "Lad…" Guildmaster Finnegan's tone had taken a very dark, warning tone that made Erin go tense.

Axl looked unaffected. "I'm just saying, it doesn't feel right to let go of someone you couldn't afford to lose. Far as I'm concerned, she's got as much progress in her mission as yours. How's that hunt for Thorn going?"

Guuldmaster Finnegan grunted irritably.

"We both know if Pops sees something in her, there is, right? We both know you can't be that dumb."

"Lad, I am no' in de mood for dis." Guildmaster Finnegan stood across from and and Axl boldly met his glare. While looking more level-headed, she could see the challenge in his eyes.

"You're gonna have to catch me then. Say, how many stars did I end up getting?" He asked, unhooking his scalchop.

Chuckling, Guildmaster Finnegan extended his blade like fingers in a stretch. "Cowards don' ge' dem, lad." He taunted, motioning for Bendy and Todd to back up.

Erin was in disbelief. "Wait, you two can't be serious!" She proclaimed, making a move to step in between the two before Nero held out a hand. He made a similar motion for Sergei and Ceren to back off while giving her a bemused look.

"Let them work out their tension, I doubt we could stop them if we wanted to." He said lazily, surprising Erin. Before she could protest further, Nolan had returned and started administering medicine to her face in a rush. She winced at the sting of whatever he was spraying on her cheek.

Ceren seemed keen on the battle. "Gilbert is recaptured and we get to see Axl get his ass kicked, I'm happy the Guildmaster asked me to come." He said, sounding a bit happier.

Sergei grunted in agreement, but otherwise remained silent as his face was dark with unknowable thoughts. He simply rested against the wall next to Gilbert in case the ghost type decided to wake up at any point.

Erin had also, very unwillingly, backed against the wall as well with Nolan still administering first aid. She exchanged an anxious look with him, hoping to get some clarity from one of the few Pokemon she had met that didn't have a bone to pick with Axl.

Almost as if reading her mind, he spoke up. "Don't worry, those two have a closer relationship than you'd think. Guildmaster Finnegan is like another father to him, after all."

"Really?"

Nolan nodded, lowering his voice to a whisper. "I think he was more disappointed than anyone when Axl left his guild, it left a bad taste in everyone's mouth the way he did." He said this while administering a patch to her face.

Erin gave the otter a sympathetic look, as she remembered Ramirez, the Raticate that had left their Guild as soon as Erin had joined.

"It's a little unfair of him to be mad that he doesn't want to risk his life anymore. He could've been thinking of his mom, don't you think?"

Iris, who was listening in, smiled at Erin's empathy. "Unfortunately, nobody has really taken the time to consider what was going on in Axl's world. Truth be told, I don't think anyone knew how to react to the news. He had taken down numerous dangerous criminals, risked his life thousands of times and even fought against Scourge despite the odds of him surviving being almost zero. All with that damn, unreadable face of his, he's the last Pokemon you'd ever expect to leave his Guild because it was too scary." She seemed emotionless, although didn't carry the contempt everyone else in the room had for him.

Nolan snorted. "You'd think they'd show gratitude for everything he's done for them, ungrateful little boogers." He muttered, low enough so Sergei didn't overhear them.

Erin wanted to ask more, but everyone had their attention turned to the battle that was about to unfurl in front of them. Both looked unintimidated by each other, although with Guildmaster Finnegan's reputation, she could only be left to wonder what exactly Axl was planning.