Damion just brushed ryhs aside. And continued on his way. There was no chance he was gonna let anyone get hurt. And tho Damion hated him with a vengeance that included gradient. The a few lumps and bruises to teach a lesson was far within damions standards of 'protecting' gradient.

"Hey! Stop! Listen to me!" Thus shouted at him, one thing that Rhys couldn't stand Ian when people refused to listen to reason, and refused to listen to him. He felt his fists clenching, Rhys knew he was no good in a fist fight, but he did everything he could to stop fighting. "Damion you idiot! You're going to make everything worse!" Rhys yelled.

Perhaps this 'Rhys' didn't know it, but Jay knew that Gradient would win a fight. Gradient knew it too. "C'mon Gradient. We gotta try and find Ashley." Jay whispered, before grabbing Gradient's forearm and dragging him along.

But Gradient stayed. "Gradient!" Jay whined, stomping his feet. "C'mon!" Jay pulled harder, yet Gradient didn't move an inch.

"... What progress do you think we're gonna make, Jay? It's 7:30 at night. We have no idea where your 'Ashley' might be." Gradient finally looked up to meet Jay's black eyes. "What do you want me to do, Jay?" Gradient asked. Jay could almost hear the hope seeping out of Gradient, Jay could almost feel the questions shooting at Jay in rapid fire.

"... I don't know Gradient. I don't know."

"I suggest you just do what he says, I might not be a very good fighter, but I still know how, and I know some very good fighters who don't take kindly to people picking on their 'baby bro'" Rhys advised Gradient. Thus remembered when his big sister, Rizsa, discovered some kids were beating him up, she went with him to where the bullies were, and just like that, he had no problem with them ever again.

Gradient and Jay exchanged glances, and almost burst out into laughter. Gradient and Jay just couldn't hold back their goofy smiles. "Well, as good as you are, I'm a black belt in two different martial arts, so... Go on if you wish." Gradient said, smirking.

"Besides." Jay cut in, smiling softly. "I ain't Gradient's 'baby bro.' I'm his friend." Jay told Rhys, his smile expanding ten-fold. "It's my fault for getting in the way of Poison Purple Gradient." Jay said, not taking it seriously at all.

(toture station for Jay, here I come! XD)

"Hey, it's not your fault that he's being a huge jerk! Why are you even sticking around him if he treats you like trash! That's called abuse!" Rhys yelled, starting to get closer, his fists clenched. He could feel his legs shaking, not sure if it was from anger, fear, or something else. In that moment, Rhys realized how alone he was, there was no one to come save him now.

Gradient raised an eyebrow, seeing that Rhys was getting heated over this. "So?" He asked. "Is sparring in martial arts abuse when you punch someone?" Gradient asked.

Jay grabbed his guitar, and started plucking the strings casually, but Gradient could see his eyes light up.

And he started frickin' singing softly. Gradient groaned inwardly. "This isn't High School Musical, Jay." He reminded his friend, only to get a smile in return.

"A beautiful sound I've never known
A melody no one can play alone
Crying, laughing from hello
Do Re Mi Fa So!" Jay sung, playing his guitar along the way. Gradient groaned and just walked away from him. Jay finally stopped, pouting at Gradient.

"Gradient!" Jay whined. "You're supposed to clap and cheer!" He said. Gradient just snorted.

"I'll do that when you stop pretending we're in Lion King, thanks." He remarked. Jay just pouted even more, huffing as he crossed his arms.

"It's not abuse if it's a consensual match that is set up between both parties, and if both parties agree to be fighting each other, but just punching someone out of the blue like that, that's straight up illegal" Rhys retaliated.

"Mr. Perfect" Rhys sneered "how perfect can someone be if they constantly assault ones who do nothing but care for them, and treat others like dirt" Rhys spat. "You're no better than a Yungoos" Rhys sneered, a song playing in his head as he mentally sang the words 'you've got sticks and stones to turn to, but I've got words to hurt you' where did he remember that song from? He thought, whatever, it's not important. He shook he bought a from his head.

Gradient's eyes shone with anticipation. Jay paled again. Oh no. Gradient was looking for a challenge now... This would not end well with either parties. "Okay, that's smart. Who am I to argue with that?" Gradient asked, smirking."

"Um, we're going to be going now." Jay said, panic apparent in his face. "Later!" And with that, Jay dragged Gradient away, with the help of his Pokemon of course.

"Jay? What the- Okay, you know what? I'll trust you, as much as I'll regret it later." Gradient said, rolling his eyes.

But Jay saw the smile on his face. Not a fake, polite one, but rather a real one. One of the ones that made Jay smile too.

Huh.

Rhys nodded "always good to see further conflict avoided" Rhys said to no one in particular. He opened his arms wide as Sylver came running out, right into his arms. "That beat still doesn't scare me as much as you used too" Rhys laughed, and was greeted with a slap to the face. "Idiot! You can fix all the fights in her world, you could've gotten yourself killed!" She shouted at him. "I know, but I can still try to fix everything" Rhys said sadly.

Once the two finished with their emotional talk, they quickly shoved each other away. "What were you doing, stalking me in the bushes anyway?" Asked Rhys accusingly. "I was going to call the police" Sylver admitted. "Even if it's you, I'm not letting anyone get away with hurting my enemies, I'm the only one allowed to pick on you, got that?" Sylver said. "Same goes for you" Rhys said back to her.