Chapter Text
Harmony hissed in pain from the antiseptic, “It hurts!” She whined and protested. She tried to pull her arm back, but Corbeau firmly held her arm still to mend the cuts and bruises.
“Good. Then it will make you think twice before jumping into fights.” Corbeau scolded while he dabbed some antiseptics to clean her cuts, “Honestly, what were you thinking? From all of you, you look to be the one who lost badly.”
Harmony looked away, trying to avoid answering the question and instead looked at how the others were faring.
They were all at Nouveau Cafe. Honestly, Harmony doesn't know how the adults came by so fast and how they heard the news of ‘Team MZ brawl fight with another group of teenagers’, but with Corbeau in the ‘adult’ team, Harmony was sure he knew everything that they did and about to do, even before they do it.
Since Corbeau is her ‘guardian’ now (how did that happen, Harmony actually doesn't know, and since her lack of parents here at Lumiose and the fact that she's still a 13 year old minor, she doesn't have that much of a choice and the other adults thought it was good for her to have someone keenly keep an eye on her. Literally. Oh, and he volunteered in the first place), he's the one who mended her wounds whilst scolding her.
Urbain is the second youngest of their group at 15, since he knew about his grandmother and now being the heir of Quasartico Inc, is being tended by Vinnie, who has also taken the responsibility keeping a close eye on him even before the whole prism tower catastrophe. Hearing the hushed conversation between them and the occasional grunts and protests from Urbain, Harmony knew he was being lectured as well.
Lida is 16 and the oldest of Team MZ (aside from Floette), being alone here at Lumiose and the frequent customer of Nouveau Cafe, she was simply being taken in by both Grisham and Griselle. Grisham, being the Flare Nouveau’s boss with a ‘bleeding’ heart, made him easily pick up ‘strays’ under his wing. While Griselle has the young women solidarity and all that. Currently, Harmony heard Grisham talking with Lida in hushed tones, Griselle chiming in here and there while the both of them mended Lida’s own cuts and bruises.
Naveen is 15 and originally from Lumiose with an unsupportive grandmother but a loving little sister, is now being treated by Emma who broke up the whole fight thing. Emma and Naveen also talked in hushed tones, probably Emma asking Naveen what had transpired in the first place.
Harmony felt a tug on the end of her small black and purple ponytail and yelped more in surprise than pain.
“Eyes on me, petite.” Corbeau said after releasing her ponytail, “Answer the question.”
Harmony squirmed nervously, but Corbeau put his hand on her knee firmly, making her still again.
“It's just a fight between us teens and their group.” Harmony finally murmured, indicating the other group vaguely since that 4 older boys had run off when the adults came.
Corbeau exhaled harshly, “And why.. Do you all resolve fighting with your fists instead of battling it out with your pokemon?”
Harmony knew the hidden means behind that. She had helped save Lumiose from the Ange catastrophe with Zygarde's help. Her pokemons are more than capable of winning against most other pokemons. That way, the trainers wouldn't have gotten hurt, either she or them.
Harmony huffed, “It’s a fight between humans, not pokemons. They didn't pull out their pokemons so we didn't either. Code honor between fighters and all that.” She said, masking it nonchalantly. But that only made Corbeau angrier.
“That is not the point Kid!” He shouted, making her flinch and the others to turn towards them, but Corbeau wasn't done, “Do you even see yourselves? Your body is literally covered in cuts and bruises! Those are the ones I could see right now, not to mention the ones under your clothings, which I assure you, you have bruises there, I noticed your discomfort when moving. You are a thirteen year old child Harmony, not a maniac who swings fists first before thinking. And you even dragged your teammates to this reckless fight!”
“Hey! Why do you assume I'm the one who dragged them into the fight?” Harmony asked incredulously and offended.
Corbeau rolled his eyes, “Oh please, if it's not you, then it's Urbain. Take your pick. Not to mention both of you are the worst ones off from that fight.” Which was true, Harmony and Urbain's injuries are worse than Lida and Naveen.
Harmony rolled her eyes a bit, “Well that gang said that AZ is a bad person. He's a monster with a curse to his enormous height and stuff. Which, yeah we know about AZ's past, but they don't know the whole thing.”
“So you hit them?” Corbeau raised an eyebrow.
Harmony glared but wilted a bit when Corbeau returned the glare, “No, they shoved Lida first because they don't like her comments, and- well, because she rejected one of them. Then I punched that person, Urbain followed after that one punched my gut.”
Corbeau raised an eyebrow at that, because he knew she faltered a bit, something about Lida. He knew she lied there. He's a Syndicate boss, so he knew when someone lied to him.
“That's not all of it, is it?” Emma said, since being a detective, she has some kind of sixth sense to this kind of thing as well.
Harmony didn't get to reply because Urbain already beat her to it, “They touched Lida,” He said with red rising from his neck to his ears, more so in anger than embarrassment, “Inappropriately.”
Grisham, who was quiet the whole time, finally opened a sliver of his eyes, in a sharp almost threatening way, “Explain.”
He didn't say who, so Urbain continued on, “One of them tried to- er.. Sorry Lida, he shoved his hand to her chest. Harmony was closest, she punched that guy. She just meant it so he would stay away from Lida. But that guy punched Harmony hard, so I punched him back on the jaw. Naveen kicked him, and that guy's friend kicked him back. Before we realized it, it's an all out brawl. Until well- I don't know how Emma or you all know, but then you were there, and here we are.” Urbain spread his hands to indicate their current stands.
Grisham hummed while Griselle rubbed Lida's shoulder comfortingly, “Do you remember the guy's face?”
Lida instantly felt alarmed, “Grisham..”
Grisham waved his hand slightly, “I won't kill him.”
Lida groaned, “That doesn't sound any better.”
Harmony rolled her eyes, “Besides, we all know you're just going to torture him. That's worse off, instead of being killed instantly.”
Grisham look amused at her claim, while Corbeau glared hard at her, “Hush, no talking about torture and killing at your age. Besides, Grisham is not the only one who is going to have a meeting with that group of teenagers.” When Harmony looked a bit amused at his claim, Corbeau huffed and tapped her forearm in gentle reprimand, “Don't you think we're done. This is not only about Lida then, but about AZ as well? What did they say after that which made you explode?”
Harmony looked at him with her wide yellow green eyes in disbelief, “What did you mean by ‘explode’? And how did you even know that??”
Corbeau huffed, “You know I have eyes and ears everywhere, and I know you fought those guys like you're a pokemon yourself. Ruthless,” at Harmony’s incredulous look, he tapped her knee firmly, “Stop changing the subject and answer the question petite.”
Harmony looked away again, “They said they want to ruin AZ's grave.. Said he doesn't even deserve to be buried there.” She admitted.
Corbeau knew how much team MZ loves that old ancient giant man, but there are some lines that even they need to think before they act. He pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration, “Harmony, do you even think AZ would want you to defend his name like that?”
Harmony didn’t dare to meet his eyes, “I don't know. He's not here anymore, so no, he can't comment on it.”
That made all of them silent.
Corbeau sighed while continuing to patch up the bruises on Harmony's arms before he moved to her undershirt, “Lift up.” This is not the first time Corbeau patched her up, so Harmony knew what he meant and lifted her hoodie and shirt a bit to show him the blooming bruise on her lower torso's skin near the hip.
Corbeau's eyes were murderous when he saw the big fist shaped bruise. But he kept his comment to himself at the moment and continued, “That's not what I meant, petite, and you know it. Even from the short time I interacted with him, AZ wouldn't want you kids to get hurt because of him.”
Harmony's eyes were glassy when she remembered AZ taking her in. AZ's grave. His letter to her. Floette's cries at night. Lucario.
Corbeau noticed her shifting mood and softened a bit, “There’s more to it, isn’t it?”
Harmony wiped her eyes with her free sleeve while Corbeau focused on the bruise near her hip, “They- They don't know him like we do. They don't get a say.”
Corbeau's eyes flickered to hers for a moment, “And that is probably why they say what they said. Because they don't know the AZ version like you kids do. That doesn't make what those teens did right, but you shouldn't fall to their level.”
When Harmony didn't answer and he was done mending the bruise, Corbeau smooths her shirt and hoodie back in place before putting his hand on her shoulder to get her attention, “Harmony, none of us wants to see you kids get hurt. Especially when you get beat up like this. Next time, walk away and tell one of us. We’ll handle it.”
Harmony huffed, “You’ll handle it how? Like Grisham?” But her words are not sharp. More of a tease than retort.
Corbeau chucked her under the chin gently for that comment, “We’ll handle it as we see fit. And what we do is none of your concern.”
“Well if someone hurts you or endangers you, it'll become my concern.” Harmony retaliated seamlessly, rendering Corbeau speechless for a moment before he sighed and stood up to ruffle her hair, eliciting a squeak of protest from her.
“Just to be clear, every single one of you knows that fighting isn't the right move, right?” Vinnie asked. He has a daughter, so he knows he has to make sure of these things, especially to teens.
Harmony smirked, “Well Corbeau and Grisham seem ready to go and fight those guys, so.. It depends?” It earned her a light smack upside the head from Corbeau.
Lida and Naveen murmured their affirmatives. Vinnie raised an eyebrow to the still silent Urbain and who was trying to avoid his eyes, “Urbain?”
Urbain groaned, “Aw come on, Vinnie. I kind of agree with Harmony here. It depends on the situation right? Not everything can be settled peacefully. That guy earlier was out of line!”
Vinnie sighed, “I know he was. But the right course to choose was to report it. Who knew what might happen if we all didn't step in time?”
“Well if we wait to report it, who can say that they won't go too far with Lida?” Urbain challenged, “They had touched Lida and then they hurt Harmony. All peaceful resolve evaporated right then.”
“He's not wrong.” Griselle said while standing behind Lida.
“Griselle, please..” Emma shook her head in exasperation.
“What? The brat is right. Those guys went too far, and to be fair, we probably would do the same thing.” Griselle crossed her arms.
“If we were younger and more stupid, sure.” Corbeau said sharply, “Anger without some thinking resolves nothing. It was reckless and foolish. Those four guys are older and bigger than these four.” Corbeau gestured to the 4 kids, “They can kill our kids if they have no problem going too far.”
Harmony, despite knowing that Corbeau was scolding them, felt warm at his words of claiming them ‘our kids’ and none of the adults denied it. She felt guilty then, she knew how worried Corbeau could be when he saw she was hurt.
She tugged on his sleeve quietly, and when she got his attention, she murmured audibly, “I’m sorry..”
Corbeau sighed, “And what are you sorry for, petite?”
“.. For fighting.. And for worrying you over my injuries.. Even though you shouldn’t have to..”
Corbeau put his hand on her head, ruffling it gently, “I do care for your wellbeing, petite. None of us knew why, but we care for you kids. So don’t go over and get yourself hurt, alright?”
Harmony nodded, “Alright..”
Corbeau patted her head before removing it, “Now, we talked about consequences.”
Urbain and Harmony quickly complained the loudest, which prompted Corbeau to hold up his hand for silence, “Enough. I’ll leave Urbain. Lida, and Naveen’s to their guardians’ hands, while you petite, are going to stay at the Syndicate until I trust you to wander around the city by yourselves again.”
Harmony looked as if she was going to jail. In a sense, maybe she is, “And when will that be?”
Corbeau looked away to hide his smirk, “Until I said so. It could only be two days, or a week. Depends on how you behave.”
Harmony protested, “That’s- That was almost just like when we were talking about Urbain’s loan!”
Corbeau sent her his sharp look that meant no arguments, “Then you should’ve thought so before you fight, and this will ensure you have enough time to think about your reckless actions.”
Harmony sighed, “So I’ll be staying with you after we’re done from here?..”
Corbeau nodded, “If not me, then Philippe will keep an eye on you.”
Harmony groaned, “Please don’t.. Philippe will never let me live this down..”
Corbeau finally let his smirk show, “That, is the whole point.”
Harmony huffed, “You’re cruel.” she said it with no heat behind it, and she took his hand when he offered to help her stand up. They were all breaking up to go back to their places.
Corbeau chuckled under his breath while tucking her on his side, keeping the child away from the cold air, “If it teaches you to be safe, then I’ll do it petite. Your life matters, and I’ll make sure you see it that way too.”
Harmony just leaned closer to him. Sure Corbeau is bossy at times, but he does genuinely care about her wellbeing, and she loves him like a family. He also thought of her as one.
The adults, Grisham, Griselle, Emma, Vinnie, Jett, Tarragon, Ivor, and many others in the city also thought that and they are going to make sure that their teen ‘heroes’ will take better care of themselves. For the adult’s heart, and for AZ’s last wishes..