Neil and Dustin stood in the ‘Adventure’s End’, the closest bar to the Adventure Society Campus.

  By evening, it would be crawling with society members celebrating a contract completed or planning their next.

  But now, in the mid-afternoon sun, only a few patrons sat at scattered tables finishing a drink or finalizing business.

  The Leonid barkeeper shook her head while leaning on the bar, her dark, spotted fur making her almost blend into the dim interior.

  “Your team's not much one for completing contracts, so why would I see the Mercer boy here?”

  Neil and Dustin both grimaced at this, but knew it was a fair question.

  The most contracts they had ever completed were during their initial assessments and then re-assessment.

  As Neil's mother put it, a networking opportunity with the Remore family was too good to pass up.

  The Remore Scion’s appearance in Greenstone was partially why they had found themselves in this predicament in the first place.

  If Rufus Remore hadn’t arrived, Thadwick would’ve kept his previous assessment, and they wouldn’t have met Jason Asano.

  However, Thadwick's two weeks of re-re-assessment had been a much-needed vacation, for which they mentally thanked Rufus Remore for.

  Still, Neil and Dustin both regretted not getting much fieldwork.

  Thadwick would complain, of course, about his rank and power, but he’d never seemed motivated to put in actual work to raise his abilities the correct way.

  Thus, while they still trained independently at the Mercer Estate, Neil and Dustin knew the only way they would take a contract was if it was assigned to them personally by the director, and Thadwick may still try to weasel his way out of that.

  The Leonid watched the two young men shuffle uncomfortably and sighed.

  “Listen, I’ll give you some free advice since you're away from your employer’s scrutiny for a moment.”

  “We’re not employed—” Dustin started.

  “If you don’t realize your circumstance, that’s your own lack of perception. I've spent enough time in the Society and watching them in retirement to know talent when I see it. And boys, you’re both too good to be playing babysitter.”

  “I don’t think the Mercers would like that implication,” Neil warned the Barkeeper, who let out a laugh more akin to a growl.

  “If Thalia Mercer wants to come down to the bar where she and Lady Geller forge their friendship, let her.

  I’ll toss her out just like I did when she used a bronze ranker to break one of my tables thirty years ago,” The Leonid woman said, pointing back to the Warhammer hanging up on the wall behind her.

  “Besides, I think the whole Adventure Society would be up in arms if someone took their free ‘Sixth Day Shot’ away from them.”

  Some of the room perked up at this and turned their gaze on the two young men, who could feel oppressive auras start to permeate the room.

  The Leonid laughed again as she watched Neil and Dustin turn to leave the ‘Adventures End’.

  “Bye, boys. Come on back when you’ve completed your first real contract.”

  The door closed behind them as Dustin ran his hands through his black curls, looking across the road into the Adventure Society campus.

  “Guess we should go check the flophouses next," he said, looking at Neil, whose ears were red from frustration.

  “You know what the worst fucking thing about this is, Dustin?” Neil said under his breath.

  Dustin could see Neil’s fist clenched.

  “I was worried about him, I really thought he might die, and then he doesn’t even care that we saved him. Just goes off to get himself killed again.”

  “Neil, Asano wouldn’t kill Thadwick.”

  “Well, I want to.”

  “No, you don’t. Wait. Speak his name and he shall appear. There’s Asano now.” Dustin gestured towards the campus, which had a clear but distant view of the job hall, as the affliction specialist walked swiftly away and into one of the campus alleyways.

  “So what? We knew Jason was here,” Neil said as he turned to look, only to curse under his breath as Thadwick rushed out of the job hall, tailing the affliction specialist into the shadows of the building.

  “I thought you checked the job hall, Neil?”

  “Dusty, if I don’t get to kill Thadwick, I’ll settle for you,” Neil said as both rushed after their wayward teammate.

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  “What would the Healer say?”

  “I’m sure he'd make an exception.”

  Shadows draped the empty alley as Thadwick chased Asano.

  “Where did he—"

  Thad gasped in surprise as he was spun and pressed against the building wall.

  “G’day Thadwick, fancy yourself a spy now?”

  “G’day to you, Jason,” Thad said, looking down at the man, who narrowed his eyes as Thad mimicked his slang, with a terrible accent.

  The moment gave Thad the chance to push Jason off him.

  “I wasn’t spying on you.”

  “And I wasn’t sleeping with that guy’s wife.”

  “We both know Clive Standish doesn’t have a wife.”

  “How dare you besmirch her name by insinuating my lover’s not real?”

  “Your lover named wife?”

  “It’s spelled W-i-F-i.”

  This caused Thad to pause because, honestly, Clive would love Wi-Fi if he knew about it. He would love the internet in general.

  “That’s a stupid name.”

  “You would know, Thadwick. I mean, really, what even is a Thad?”

  A flash of anger went through Thad, prompting a serpentine smirk from Jason.

  “So, Thad. Why were you watching me?”

  “I wasn’t watching you.”

  “You know the funny thing about auras? If you know what to look for, you can tell when someone’s lying. Now, I’m not surprised you’re a liar. We can add that to the laundry list of traits your family wishes they could trade in. However, that still doesn’t explain why you were following me.”

  Thad let out a heavily controlled breath as he felt his fist clench, reminding himself that Jason wasn’t talking about his actual family, just Thadwick’s. However, Thadwick’s family seemed keener on keeping him despite his wrongs, and the irony stung.

  “Fine, I was looking for you.”

  “See, honesty doesn’t have to be hard, mate. Now admit why you're creeping on me like in ‘Revenge of the Nerds’?”

  “I…” Thad racked his brain.

  One, he had never seen that movie, so the reference was lost on him, and two, he had no idea how to fix this, not with Jason already being this hypervigilant around him.

  “I came to accept your apology.”

  “My what?” Jason said, tilting his head to the side.

  “Your apology for being smug, childish, and a little too impressed with yourself. I see you still have room to work on those things, but I’m willing to, as you said… start fresh.”

  Thadwick put out his hand towards Jason.

  Jason just stared.

  “What’s your aim, Thad? You think I’m worthy of breathing your air now?”

  “I think open hostility won’t suit either of us.”

  “Says the hostile one.”

  “You’re the one who pushed me up against a wall a few minutes ago, and I’m the hostile one?”

  “You’re playing at something.”

  “Scared of being played, Asano?”

  “Nah, you're not that clever mate. Apology rescinded.”

  “You can’t just take back an apology.”

  “Well, I did.”

  “That’s childish.”

  “It’s something we both agree I need to work on.”

  “Why are you making this so difficult?”

  “Why are you stalling? Is it just so your lackeys can jump me? I know a trap when I see it, Thadwick.” Jason said as a dagger materialized in his hand.

  “I came here alone.”

  “Sure, you did, hey, did you hear that? He says he doesn’t need the bodyguards, so you can go home,” Jason said, pointing the tip of his dagger at Thad’s throat, as two large men entered the alley.

  The first was a black man, at least a foot taller than Jason, and built like a linebacker. He had icy blue eyes, and when he looked at Thad, he scowled before turning his gaze on Jason, who gave him a smug grin.

  The second man was an elf, with auburn hair and freckles peppering his tawny skin. His eyes were the color of greenstone. Thad watched the green eyes flick from Jason, to the dagger and then their eyes locked briefly before the elf shook his head in disappointment.

  “Put the dagger away, Asano, we’re not here to fight,” Neil said, moving into an offensive spell-casting stance.

  “No, apparently you’re here to accept an apology,” Jason said, keeping the dagger in line with Thad’s jugular.

  “Don’t be foolish; it would be three on one.” Dustin said, the temperature around them dropping until everyone’s breath was visible.

  “I like those odds; besides, we all know it's really two on one… hmm, make that two on two, if you consider your liability here, Kettering.” Jason quipped, playfully tapping the flat side of the blade against Thad’s throat, who scowled at Jason.

  This was all going to shit, and the two men, whom Thad could only assume to be Neil and Dustin, were not making it better.

  “You two should just go; I’ve got this,” Thad said, which made everyone look at him with disbelief.

  “Ok, Thadwick, what the fuck.” Neil said, moving out of his stance and grabbing Thad by the front of his shirt, pushing him further into the wall. The sudden shift in dynamics made Jason step back, his dagger disappearing.

  “First, you almost got yourself killed yesterday, and now you think you can just ditch us to go fight this half-rate Dominion wannabe.”

  “Hey!—"

  “Oh, shut it, Asano, don’t you have some contract to take!”

  “Neil, cool it,” Dustin said, putting his hand on the elf’s shoulder, who shrugged it off.

  “I didn’t think—” Thad started.

  “No, that’s your problem, you don’t think. You don’t do a lot, Thadwick, except find new and fascinating ways to get yourself killed. And who saves you every time you fall out of a flophouse and nearly die? You could at least have the decency of letting me be an actual healer for you on contracts, but no, the closest thing we ever get to a monster is you.”

  “And on that note, I’m leaving. Have fun sorting out whatever… This is,” Jason said vaguely, waving his hands between the three of them as he disappeared into a shadow.

  The silence was deafening as they stood there, Neil’s hands still tangled in Thadwick's shirt.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “What?” Neil said, loosening his grip.

  “You both…I’m sorry. You both deserve a better friend,” Thad said.

  “Friend?” Dustin gave a disbelieving laugh.

  “You don’t have friends, Thadwick,” Neil said, letting go of his shirt and stepping back.

  Thad felt a pang in his chest. They were right. He didn’t have friends, at least not anymore.

  Ash, Fritz, and Nico, he would never see them again.

  No more bar trivia. No more weekend climbing with Fritz. Nico would never call him out on his bad taste in men. Ash would never bring an extra coffee when they shared a shift.

  He had nothing.

  And this world was so fucked up already that he had no hope of turning it around.

  Thad felt his throat tighten as he turned away from his new team, trying to regain his composure right as a paperclip jumped into his vision.

  -It looks like you need a friend. A new task list has been assigned for [With Friends Like These]. Once the task is marked completed, the User will gain access to [Awakening Stone].-

  -A new sub-task list has been assigned for [With Friends Like These], subtask [Contract Complete] (Complete 10 contracts). Once the task is marked completed, the User will gain access to [Messenger]. –

  -A new sub-task list has been assigned for [Contract Complete], subtask [Glass Cannon] (Learn to fight). Once the task is marked completed, the User will gain access to [Power Toggle Advance]. –

  Dustin and Neil shared a look as they felt Thadwick’s aura flood with misery.

  “Do you think it’s the head trauma?” Dustin mouthed to Neil, miming hitting his head.

  “I don’t know,” Neil whispered and shrugged.

  “I’m… I’m going to fix this. We may not be friends… but we’re still a team, so if you want to take contracts, we’ll take contracts.” Thad said, still not looking back towards them.

  “Definitely head trauma.” Dustin mouthed to Neil, who shook his head in agreement.

  Hope you enjoyed Chapter 5!

  of the team together! I have since updated.

  Jason I did for the fandom that slowly morphed into me writing this fic.

  Scene of Neil pinning Thad against the wall... I really should update this one eventually, mostly cause Neil color pallet has changed since then.

  Either way, i'm always down to respond to comments and chat with everyone, thanks for reading!