Shocked with disbelief, Daniel watched as Serpentaire — no, Cedric, apparently — casually shook hands and greeted Carmen and Raph, like the past five minutes didn’t happen at all. The referee returned Daniel’s jacket before she disappeared, and he walked over to meet up with the group.

“Hang on, you know him?” he said.

“Since before your parents had even thought of meeting each other. It’s a pleasure to meet face-to-face, Daniel!” Cedric extended a friendly handshake.

Daniel eyed him, glancing up at Mr. Stone. “And this isn’t a ‘oh, i know him because he bullied me’ like it was for Raph’s old coach, was it?”

“No? What’s the suspicion for, Daniel? Did you hear something?”

“I—did I?! I’m sorry I’m a little freaked out that you’re all buddy buddy with the guy that just threatened to kill me! To kill you! Raph, what—why are you laughing?”

Raph couldn't hold it anymore, and he threw his head back in laughter. “Oh damn, y’all really got him tweaking!”

Daniel gasped. “No. You knew?”

“I purposefully steered Carmen and Rafiq elsewhere to explain the joke Cedric had come up with. You happened to be the first one to meet him, so you became the subject.” Mr. Stone nodded, smiling.

“And I’d say we can call that mission a success. Here.” Cedric opened his palm, handing Daniel a piece of spearmint gum. “For the troubles!”

Daniel still took the gum, but he couldn’t believe his ears, and he couldn’t stop his heart from pounding. This could’ve been like the thug — he could’ve died — but it was all just a joke? He looked at Carmen, but she snickered a little bit, too.

Ironically, Cedric was the only one that seemed to notice his facial expression. “I had fun, but I’m now realizing it was probably bad timing considering…recent events,” he said. They all began to walk towards the exhibit exit as a group.

Daniel chuckled. “You think? I mean, last time someone tried to kill me, I almost died because my invincible move turned out to be pretty ‘vincible, but yeah, let’s make it a big joke.”

“Damn, they got you that pressed, bro?” Raph asked.

Daniel buried his fists in his pockets to keep them from shaking. “No. I’m fine. Where are we going next?”

“Well, my favorite section of the Louvre is back downstairs, with more sculptures. How about the Egyptian exhibit after that?”

“Do they have anything from Pakistan, here?”

Cedric sighed. “Unfortunately not. Is that where you’re from?”

Their conversation continued as they walked through the Louvre, but Daniel let it fade into background noise amidst the ringing in his ears from the settling adrenaline. He tried to look at the different pieces of art they passed to distract himself, tried to reach reflexively for his headphones to calm himself down with some tunes. He’d left them at home. But, by that point, he found himself glancing at everyone who seemed like a Fighter and everyone who didn’t, seeking any hostile intent in an attempt to try and prevent an attack before it caught them off guard.

Every time someone caught his eye, he felt himself back in that convenience store, when that thug clutched Daniel’s arm and had him at his mercy. The fight against Apex and her cohorts was different; it was still an actual Fight, so the chances of him actually dying were low until it was over. But, this was a random man in their own neighborhood that could’ve killed him if Agent Wolfe didn’t show up. A part of him prayed that she could keep something like that from happening to Mr. and Mrs. Garcia.

Once they reached the wing with the French sculptures, Daniel struck out on his own, to clear his thoughts. Mr. Stone was in on the joke, too. But, he showed up late when Carmen and Raph ran into West Gale and Carmen almost got killed by Apex. He wasn’t there when Daniel almost got killed by that guy at the gas station, either. How could he be so inconsiderate?

Daniel faced a statue of a man reaching towards the sky, nude with his junk completely out, but even the absurdity wasn’t enough to calm his anger. It was even more unfair for Mr. Stone of all people to be so ignorant about their real possibility of getting attacked. He couldn't protect them anymore. Walking with a cane already made it difficult to even climb stairs, let alone trying to fight for his life.

“Pretty weird for them to make a statue of a nude guy, huh?”

Daniel glanced over his shoulder. Carmen strolled up to him casually, hands behind her back. And then, suddenly the anger in his heart faded, like a soft, warm pillow had been draped over it.

He exhaled hard out of his nose, a slight laugh. “Yeah.”

Carmen pursed her lips. “I’m sorry about their joke.”

“Thanks, but…why? You weren’t the one that started it.”

“But I knew. And I know why you’re so worked up over it. ‘Pressed’, like Rafiq but it.” Carmen stood beside him, closer than Daniel really realized. She leaned on the guard rail, looking up at him over her pink glasses. “I would be too. I’ve had my life threatened twice, now. I’ve been there.”

Daniel nodded, but he then raised his eyebrow. “Twice?”

“Well, it would be more accurate to say once, but before that I…actually died once, too.” She twiddled her thumbs. “I saw a vision of the dojo burning.”

He turned to face her, jaw agape.

“Demise showed it to me during our fight. And in that vision, we…we didn’t make it, you and me. I felt—” Carmen paused, pursing her lips, her stare focusing like iron onto the statue. “Point is, I’ve been in your position. I would’ve been mad too if they made it a joke.”

“Why would Mr. Stone even bring that guy around just to do something dumb like that? I mean I make dumb jokes all the time, but that’s dumb.”

“To protect us.”

Daniel scoffed. “Yeah, sure.”

“No, really. I overheard their conversation.”

“When?”

“Just before I tried to find you. I don’t think they knew I was walking past, but from their whispers…it’s really getting to Mr. Stone, not being able to fight despite us being in so much danger.”

Daniel followed the statue’s reaching hand upwards with his eyes.

“So he reached out to Cedric hoping he could pick up the slack and protect us for him, if push ever came to shove.”

Daniel nodded, and soon that distant possibility started to sound more like reality. “Do you think the joke was more like a test? To see how I’d react?”

Carmen shrugged. “If it was, I would’ve given you an F. You didn’t tell anyone when that guy threatened you. You let him challenge you, anyway, despite a weird stranger coming up to you. That’s like, stranger danger 101.”

“But my rank!” Daniel laughed. “I couldn’t lose that game. And I thought he would’ve gone crazy trying to kill all of us if I told.”

“So him, against you…and me…and Rafiq…and every other morally decent Fighter in the building that would’ve heard a guy trying to kill some children?” She raised an eyebrow. “Doesn’t sound like a sound plan to me.”

“Well sorry, Professor Garcia, I’ll do better on the next essay. You know, I thought you came over here to make me feel better. You’re just criticizing me.”

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

“But you’re smiling now, aren’t you?”

Daniel held a hand over his face, trying to hide his growing smile. “That’s cheating if you say that. No one can not smile once you point it out!”

“But I did, and you smiled. Now come on, you big dope. If you’re done moping, let’s go find the rest of the group. I also overheard Cedric asking what Mr. Stone planned on doing for dinner, and suggesting a nearby steakhouse.”

Such words instantly lifted his spirit even more. Daniel perked up. “Steak?”

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Steak.

It had been years since Daniel last ate steak, but never had he eaten such an exquisitely cooked piece of meat. It still sizzled with flavor as the waiter placed it in front of him on a black platter beside some sauteed potatoes topped with garnish.

Carmen ordered the same steak, while Raph and Mr. Stone both got lamb chops and Cedric ordered some tantalizing ribs. Robert et Louise wasn’t much bigger than the Garcia’s bar back home — in fact, it actually looked to be about half as wide, with only a few tables. But, the place still had the same homey, dark-oak aesthetic, with a jagged tile floor and wooden chairs. The entire kitchen was in clear view in the corner, and their table was close enough to taste the aroma of the meat inside the wood-fired oven.

After whispering a quick prayer, Carmen cut off a piece of her steak, and Chip fluttered over her shoulder to perch on the table. “Mmm! Thank you, Mr. Cedric! This is amazing!”

Daniel sliced his own cut too — the meat almost melted in his mouth, and made his tongue melt, too, from just how good the flavor was. He had to loll his head back and close his eyes, taking in how good the taste was. Meanwhile, Chip grasped his chest and fell over, mimicking a heart attack, clearly depressed that he couldn’t taste the same deliciousness.

“You’re welcome! I told Jonathan to pick the Le Marais area on purpose. This is one of my favorite places to grab dinner. What do you guys think of Paris so far?”

Love the weather. Love the atmosphere. How does it smell good everywhere we go? But none of the words escaped his tongue, because it was too distracted with the steak and the potatoes together.

“Too much walking,” Carmen said, sighing. “Does no one really drive anywhere?”

Cedric threw his head back in laughter. “Not as much as they do in America. I knew someone had to point that out.”

Raph shrugged. “Ain’t much to me. Maybe you should grow some longer legs!”

“Nah, Groot. That’s all you,” Daniel said between bites.

“That’s their way of saying they like it,” Mr. Stone said. “We’re here on business, too, but would you be able to help us find the best local events, Cedric?”

“Of course! I’m already off of work, so you don’t have to tell me twice,” he said, laughing. “In fact, on your way back to your room, I can show you some nice cafes and a great Fighting Center nearby. I think you’ll love it. Stylus is also holding a ball this week, though I don’t know if you’ll be able to get in there.”

“Who’s Stylus?” Daniel asked.

“The most famous Fighter in Paris — the Millionth Man,” Carmen said. “He’s an artist and entertainer who gets his title and most of his popularity from the fact that he’s the one-millionth ranked Fighter in the entire world.”

“It matters that much that he’s ranked at a million?”

She nodded. “It’s an iconic number, and he doesn’t let anyone take it away from him. But if someone did…” Carmen’s eyes lit up with excitement, and she met Chip’s excited gaze. “Cedric, do you know if Stylus attends his parties himself?”

“He does, but no one can seem to challenge him.”

“Huh?” Raph asked.

Cedric wiped his mouth with a napkin. “Exactly as I said. He’s there and he appears in person, but it has no effect when someone tries to challenge him. No one knows why.”

“Sounds like a puzzle,” Daniel said. “But I’m betting no one’s tried figuring it out ‘cause they’re too afraid of taking away the main reason he’s famous.”

Despite his words, though, Carmen still looked as excited as ever. “Then I might have a potential target in mind.”

Surprise shot through Cedric’s expression, and he nearly looked like he was going to spit out his drink. “What rank are you three, again?”

“We just reached our numbered ranks,” Daniel said. “But that guy’s still the highest right now.”

Raph swiped his menu open at his wrist, and flicked the right side of the screen. It spun in the air, turning towards the rest of the table for everyone to see. “Read it and weep, y’all!”

Cedric nodded. “And you’re targeting the millions? Steep goals. But I don’t mind helping with some sparring sessions. I’ve already fought Daniel, but I still want to see how you two fight.” He leveled his fork at Raph and Carmen.

Raph scoffed. “Nah, man. I saw how you kicked Daniel’s ass.”

“Hey! I didn’t lose that badly,” Daniel said.

“Were you fighting with your eyes closed? That’s not how it looked for us,” Carmen laughed.

Mr. Stone nodded. “You seemed to lack a real strategy since you were faced with your archetypical counter. Anything aside from throwing your jacket at him would’ve been preferable.”

Cedric gestured at Mr. Stone in agreement. “And the more you three lose against me, the less you’ll lose when the time comes for you to take down your marks. When can we get started?”

“Do we have to train more tonight, Mr. Stone?” Carmen asked. “I’m still tired from the flight here.”

“Fortunately, so am I. We’ll resume our training tomorrow, once we’re more acclimated to the time difference. Mentally, I still feel like it’s noon, but my eyes and my body feel as tired as if it is dark outside,” Mr. Stone said. “And the new roommates should get acclimated to each other,” he said, grinning at Daniel and Raph.

Daniel paused in the middle of his bite, and shared a concerned glance with Raph.

----------------------------------------

Later that night, though, it turned out that rooming with Raph wouldn’t be as bad as Daniel thought.

The legroom on the bed would be a problem, but their taste in music was closer than Daniel thought — and that was all he cared about. Raph vibed with some of the songs he played from back home and the beats he had made, and Daniel enjoyed the tunes Raph shared from artists that only existed in this universe.

Soon, though, they both retired to their own activities. As Raph watched some anime on his laptop, Daniel strolled over to check on Carmen in her own room. Just as he thought, she’d connected her console to the hotel room TV, and sat curled up in her blanket playing a game.

But a loud, sharp boom outside caught their attention, and they rushed to her balcony. At the bank of the Seine river, a group of boys lit some fireworks, and a rocket whizzed into the air before exploding into a shower of colors.

“Wow!” Carmen gasped, the lights reflecting in her glasses. “I never got a chance to see fireworks that much, you know.”

“Really?”

She shook her head. “My papa’s afraid of them. The only times I ever got to were when we went over my tio’s house for the holidays, but even that was rare.”

“Wow. One of the dudes in my group back home was a complete fireworks addict. We’d be out like those guys every other weekend!” Daniel laughed.

“Do you think they still do that, now?”

The happiness drained from his emotions as her question rooted itself in his mind. He leaned on the railing. A part of him wanted to believe that no time had passed at all, but another part of him knew that couldn’t be true.

“Sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.”

“It’s alright. It’s just curiosity. I am too, but…I don’t know if I’d want to know.”

“Would you?”

“Either I stay hoping that no time’s passed since I’ve left, or I find out the opposite and sit around depressed. Pretty easy choice. I have had some dreams lately, but…nevermind,” Daniel laughed nervously. “Are you really planning on going after Stylus as your target?”

Carmen shrugged. “We’re supposed to be targeting someone in the millions. He’s in the millions. I don’t see a problem with it.”

“But that’s the Millionth man. This guy has a whole title! How are you gonna beat him, let alone reach him in the first place?”

“Clips of everyone’s fights exist online. I just need to train more and analyze his fights to come up with a plan. Coming up with how I’ll actually get in there is different. At least I’m actually preparing for my fight, though.” She gave him a look.

Daniel laughed, watching as the boys lit another firework. “Still. It’s a pretty high bar. Are you sure you aren’t…doing that thing again?”

“What do you mean?”

“You know what I mean. That thing that cost you the tournament. I would’ve let you win if you made it to the finals, but…” This time, it was his turn to give her a look.

Carmen sighed. A chill breeze blew, and she took the blanket she held balled up in her arms and draped it over her shoulders. “I’m not doing this to prove myself to anyone else, Daniel. I’m setting the bar high, for my own sake.”

“But why put it up so high? I mean, I’m the one who said we’re targeting the millions, but I’m not going for the richest guy in that rank.”

“I figure, the higher I put it, the more that I have to do. It’s motivation.”

“And if you don’t?”

Carmen shook her head. “I’m not gonna let that be an option.”

Daniel could’ve taken a picture of that moment. A cerulean burst of light illuminated the shadows of her face in a distant blue as the warm white room lights framed the freckles along her cheek. Dying embers danced through the night sky, flickering through her eyes as flames of ambition.

But the words died on his tongue. Not yet. I can’t, yet. He cleared his throat. “Then…you should get plenty of sleep tonight. I don’t want you doing that thing, either. Goodnight.”

Carmen wished him goodnight, too, and followed him back into the room and to the door. But he wondered if she could see the weight on his shoulders — the heavy storm cloud that drew back in every time he chickened out on saying what he really wanted to say.

I love your ambition. I just don’t want you to crush yourself under it.