The Punishment

Umbra felt like a child.

Matthew had seated he and Aunora in the barstools that stood along their counter, and only Matthew remained standing, towering over them.

He had a firm frown set on his face, the same one he used whenever Victor was in trouble. Umbra shuffled under his steely glare, disturbed at the prospect of being on the other side of Matthew's paternal  discipline.

Esper stood beside Matthew, arms crossed and looking as serious as his petite frame could muster. Together, the two were a surprisingly intimidating team, as such a negative mood was unheard of between them.

Victor had been sentenced to the couch to watch cartoons while the adults had 'grown-up conversations', but the boy's attention was far from the television. He was watching his parents anxiously, weary of what the 'grow-up conversations' would bring about.

"Umbra, Aunora," Matthew began, touching his glasses, "I am very disapointed in you because of your recent behavior."

Umbra frowned, shoulders slumping farther down. He knew exactly how this discussion was going to go, it was the same one Matthew used with every person that angered him. Matthew was a curious and unpredictable man in the positive aspects of life, but when it came to negative emotions, he was hopelessly generic.

"Yeah, like, I gotta lotta people disappointed in me, so I'm not as heartbroken as 'lil Umbra over here. So why should I care?" Aunora muttered, reclining against the counter.

Matthew's eyelid twitched, the man muffling a sigh. "This team will not survive if we don't start working together and getting along. Today was a disaster."

"C'mon, Matt-" Matthew cut Aunora off with a click of his tongue.

"Your bickering with Umbra got our pay docked by one hundred and fifty dollars!" Matthew said, his control lasping for a split second. "Victor's excellent work was damaged by you two's inability to get along! We're lucky that Miss Elise was kind enough not to report our incompetency to Infinity."

Esper finally spoke, awkwardly clasping his fingers. "Mr. Matthew is correct. The tension your vitrol causes is very uncomfortable. I thought, when we first joined together that you would quickly work out your differences, but it's been weeks and your aggression has only gotten worse. Mr. Matthew and I have been talking, and we feel something must be done."
"Are you kidding me?!" Umbra and Aunora shouted in unison, mouths dropping.

"Unfortunately not," Matthew murmured, reaching into coat. He pulled out a small, folded sheet of paper, tossing it onto the counter between Umbra and Aunora.

"What's this?" Umbra inquired, instantly regretting asking. 

"Glad you asked!" Matthew said, a delighted smile on his face. "I picked up this interesting mission last night at the guild. I booked us for it, expecting all of us to do it tomorrow, but I think I'll change our plans a little."

Aunora cringed. "Whatcha talking about, dude?"

Matthew gleefully smacked his hands on their shoulders, eyes lighting up. "You two are gonna do the mission, together! It'll be the bonding experience Esper and I think you need. Since neither of you can fall back on close friend for support, you'll have to be there for each other!"

"Matthew, you can't be serious about this. It's absurd!" Umbra cried.

"Mr. Umbra, please understand where we are coming from. We want you and Aunora to get along for the good of the team! It's just one mission, and it's not even that severe." Esper pleaded with urgency, looking slightly frightened.

"I'm not going to give you guys a choice," Matthew said firmly, but still in a friendly tone, "you have to do this. There's some serious bad blood between you, and I want this team to be in complete harmony. We're one big guild family, remember!"

"Plus," Matthew suddenly growled, leaning forward, his breath hot on Umbra's ear. "I think you and Aunora's fighting may be stressing Victor out, and that is unacceptable. You're going to work something out with Aunora, okay?"

With that sinister statement, he turned around, facing the stove. "Oh my goodness, I think dinner's ready! Who's ready to eat? I know I'm starved."

As he watched Matthew open the pot and stir his soup, Umbra glared bitterly into space.

Oh, I'll go on the stupid mission, he thought, but I can't promise ever working anything out with her.

Author's Note: umbra y u so salty