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The duo entered through the office's double doors and stood by the desk opposite to Ignatius, the academy's head and Charlie's father. The charizard had an intimidating appearance. With his rank in the army, field marshal, the highest there is, simply looking at him sent shivers down Jason's spine. He wore his military uniform, ornate with the several medals of honor that he has earned through his years of service. Being an officer of Avalon, he has served several countries in need. Avalon used to be open to the military needs of the world, though it has recently made arrangements with mainly the US as both powers fight to maintain the peace between countries.

The two recruits stood as professionally as they could, setting aside their fatigue and exhaustion. Jason, the riolu, couldn't help but wonder how the first pair felt. They probably didn't even get a minute to catch their breath before they were called in. Charlie stood by his side, seemingly masking all trace of exhaustion from his composure. Jason on the other hand could feel his vision fading, his knees wobbling and his eyelids getting heavy. Jason's using all the strength he has left to at least make himself appear professional.

Inside the office with them, were two officers: one was Jason's own father, Aiden the blaziken, while the other was a sceptile, someone Jason isn't familiar with. They stood at the end of the room guarding the meeting. By the looks of the matching uniform that they both wore, Jason assumed they were both lieutenant generals (well, he didn't have to assume about his father's rank) tasked to ensure the safety and success of the assessment. Now that Jason thinks about it... perhaps they WERE being watched as they performed their task. He couldn't shake away the feeling of someone monitoring him, but it was too faint that he assumed it was just his paranoia.

Jason couldn't help but glance at his father, hoping he would at least encourage him. The blaziken maintained an emotionless expression, serious in all aspects, but Jason could feel that his father was counting on him to put up a good show. Easier said than done... considering how worn out Jason was. It's been a while since he's had this kind of activity... let alone stay awake for more than five hours...

Anxiety coursed through Charlie's system as he watched his father flip through the pages of their results. Beads of sweat poured down the side of his face due to the fatigue and anticipation. Jason on the other hand couldn't care less about the results. All he has in mind was staying awake as long as he can physically muster.

"Hm..." Ignatius hummed, eyeing every detail of the file that he was given. "To have gotten into a gun fight that early on your patrol... I'm glad the two of you made it out safely." Ignatius' words were something that neither the recruits expected him to utter. "Tell me, how did you two fare?"

Charlie was the first to speak up. He was probably afraid of what Jason might say or what it would sound like to his father. "The two fled the bank with two sacks probably worth a couple thousand dollars. We waited until they were in a secluded area so we can perform a takedown without threatening the civilians."

"Smart..." Ignatius then returned his attention to the documents. "To be honest... among all the recruits, you're the only two who actually encountered problems. Meaning you're the only two who deserve to receive a bonus for stopping a crime." He eyed the two recruits, an excited grin evident on the charizard's expression.

Charlie couldn't help but feel giddy about all of this. He thought his day had started bad and slowly moved for the worst, but now he's seeing his father smile at him with pride. He spent almost half of the day just worrying about what his father would've said if he knew what happened. His father was a proud man, the pride of Avalon's military power, and he was his son. If he'd known that Charlie was outwitted by his rival... Charlie couldn't even imagine what he would say.

"And what of you, Jason?" Ignatius' tone quickly shifted from proud to loathing tone as the charizard eyed the riolu who was just about to doze off before the surprise dispelled his drowsiness. "What was your contribution in the attack?"

Charlie was afraid he'd ask that. Now, he's going to hear Jason's side of the story. Panic began to overwhelm him as several scenarios played in his head. What was Jason going to say? How will his dad ract? Everything just rushed through the charmander's mind like watching several movies in fast forward. No... Jason wouldn't humiliate him... "I don't have any intention of demeaning you." those were Jason's exact words to him. 'Okay, Jason... time to prove yourself.' The stress and pressure clung onto the charmander tightly that even his conscience was stuttering and scared.

The riolu was at the verge of sleep, almost too much that it amazes him how nobody's noticed. He could feel the tension in the atmosphere around him, strong feelings of fear and anxiety. His curiosity managed to keep him awake and he turned to see what the disturbance was, only to find that it was his "composed" partner Charlie. Now that he's gotten hold of his surroundings, he knew exactly why Charlie was like that and knew exactly what to say.

"Nothing much, sir." Jason calmly answered, amazed that he was able to supress his yawn. "I merely served as the brain while Charlie acted as brawn in the operation."

Charlie let out a subtle sigh of relief. Although it wasn't the story he wanted Jason to say, perhaps a tag team situation would be the best for the moment. He couldn't help but feel grateful for the riolu. All those years that they've fought one another seemed meaningless now that he's looked back. Jason was a powerful opponent, a marvellous soldier and a wonderful friend... why was he so angry at him before?

Ignatius nodded as Jason finished his sentence. "Well, you're kind DOES have a talent with tactics, which is why I paired the two of you in the first place."

Charlie couldn't help but get curious, his father's words mystified him to some extent while Jason just stood there as if nothing was happening around him.

"I figured, if anybody, you, Jason, would be the only one capable of going on par against Charlie." Ignatius explained, flipping through a different set of documents which Jason recognizes as their records. "I have several accounts of the two of you fighting. Personally, I've had enough of those."

Charlie shuddered at his father's remark. Even he could feel the anger dwelling within his father regarding their petty conflicts. He had trouble maintaining a calm composure, his heartbeat hastened as the tension grew but he remained still and motionless, afraid that he may further upset his superior.

"I figured that the two of you can find a way to settle your differences in the battlefield." Ignatius continued, closing the document and focusing on the two recruits. "Avalon needs strong and dedicated soldiers. I can see those qualities in the both of you so I need you two to get your shit together. Now, back to business... the two of you did an OK job for your first day. Nothing to worry about your final mark. You may be off... it seems I'm taking too much of Jason's oh so precious time."

Turning to view Jason... he found that the inconsiderate riolu had already dozed off. Although still standing, his eyes were closed, his head hung low and a silent snoring could be heard. Charlie immediately poked Jason's thigh with the burning tip of his tail, surprising the riolu back into reality.

Ignatius eyed the riolu, insulted by his lack of respect. "Well, go on and take a break. It seems that you desperately need it."

And with that, Charlie and Jason made their salute and left the office.

The three officers were left in the room, the tension in the atmosphere shifting between one corner of the room to the next. "Quite an interesting son there, Aiden." Ignatius sighed, the charizard scratching his head with the series of thoughts that's going through his mind. "...takes an awful lot from his mother."

Aiden scoffed, sensing that the charizard's last remark was meant to be an insult. "Cut him some slack, Ignatius. He barely slept at all last night thinking about today."

"Last I heard, soldiers aren't given some slack out in the field." Ignatius retorted, their conversation slowly turning into a heated argument.

"Should I call in the next pair?" the sceptile asked hoping to stop the argument.

"Have you checked the report, Ignatius?" Aiden placed his fist down the table, his anger slowly pooling inside him. "Jason clearly did everything during that take down while your son lay dazed behind the dumpster."

"Must I remind you that it was YOUR son who used the flash bang!?" Ignatius stood up, challenging Aiden with his own fury. Although Aiden was tall, even for a blaziken, Ignatius clearly stood just as tall but much more menacingly than the blaziken.

"Who was it that gave them the flash bang in the first place?" Aiden pointed out, staring at the charizard directly in the eye in anger.

"I think we've kept the recruits waiting long enough don't we?" the sceptile nervously said chuckling, desperate to prevent conflict.

"Your family always was one for treachery." Ignatius exclaimed, going 'below the belt' with his insults. "Sometimes I wonder why I still keep you with us."

"Don't you dare involve my family in this!" Aiden grabbed Ignatius by the collar in blind fury. "Must I remind you that you too have had said 'treachery'!?"

The two hot headed fire types were just moments away into a full on conflict. "Why you insolent--"

SSHHIIIINNNKK!!!

The two were immediately separated as a glowing green blade sliced through the air in front of them. The sceptile had both his leaf blades activated, his eyes sharp and furious at the two's pettiness. "Honestly, the both of you are acting just as horribly as your children." The sceptile said coldly, his blades threatening to slice their throats whenever he pleases. "Now, the both of you will calm down, settle this argument like proper gentlemen, and not involve yourself in the growing plague. Or I will have no choice but to take drastic measures."

Aiden acknowledge the situation he was in and closed his eyes and took deep breathes, calming himself down. Ignatius on the other hand was more of a mixture of fear and anger. "You wouldn't dare..."

"Try me." The sceptile's eyes narrowed, his blades humming with an energy, as if preparing to chop off their heads. But, almost instantly and quite unexpectedly, his mood shifted from murderous to cheerful. "Welp, can't let the children waiting." He chuckled as his leaf blades shrunk bank into regular leaves on his wrists.

"Hey, Jason..." Charlie said... his head hung low and his face glowing read. "thanks for... what you said back there... for covering for me."

"No problem..." Jason answered in between yawns. "I know just how important your pride is to you... although I don't see why it's necessary. They already know everything that happened."

"What?" Jason's comment scared the charmander, his eyes widened and tail flickered. "What do you mean?"

"They had us followed, Charlie..." Jason's walking looked as though he was drunk. He was wobbling from side to side, constantly holding onto the walls for support, almost running into people, et cetera. "I couldn't shake away the feeling that we were being followed but it was so faint that I thought it was just my paranoia."

"So... everything?" Charlie's voice was shaking. The humiliating display he had given... what would his father say once they were alone?

"I think it was that sceptile in the room." Jason added, giving his cheeks a slap though unable to remove the drowsiness. "but I can't be sure..."

"Dang it..." Charlie cussed under his breath. Everything was falling apart. He'd planned that he'd keep the truth from his father but now...

"Hey, Charlie... *yawn* ...don't stress about it, m'kay?" Jason said, placing his hand on the charmander's shoulder both to encourage the charmander and to support the riolu. "I'm sure your dad won't hate you... he'll just... hate me even more..."

Jason just keeps on surprising the charmander... perhaps it WAS time to end their silly feud. "Don't be too hard on yourself. My dad just has... issues."

"But I wasn't hard on myself." Jason replied, his eyes slowly closing but struggling to remain open.

"I know you must feel bad, but trust me, it's not something that you should stress about." Charlie continued, aware that he was being odd in a hilarious way. He knows Jason's taste in comedy (some of them anyway) and this was one of the ways he'd mess with Damion.

"But I don't feel bad." Jason barely managed to get the words out as his walks turned into limps, just his body trying to drag itself.

"Listen, Jason... just keep moving forward." Charlie continued, he himself getting amused by his own antics. "Don't bother with what my dad is saying... he's not your dad. Just know that you'll always be--"

Charlie's words were cut short when he noticed that Jason had already fallen asleep on the floor. The charmander wasn't even mad, he was amazed at how Jason somehow managed to fall asleep in the presence of the most fearsome soldier in Avalon. "Oh, Jason... always so silly... even without your Damion..." Charlie sighed, grabbing Jason by his ankles and dragging him back to the dormitories.