One Big Happy Family?

"Give him some space, give him some space."

"Out of the way, Zinnia!" Emil began blinking serval times before waking up looking around finding himself in a bowling alley. He held his head in pain, looking confused. "Try not to move too much, Gale here punched you a bit too hard."

"Whoa now cowboy, let's not get ahead of ourselves. When in the heat of the battle, I shall never handicap myself to worry about my enemies. The moment I hesitate or go easy on an opponent, my life will be forfeit. Forfeit I tell you!"

"Anyway, you said your name was Emil, right? Emil Montague." Alton asked.

"It's just Emil now… I failed them again. I couldn't pass their test to matter how many times I tried. That was my last chance, and I blew it."

"What do you mean?" Zinnia asked.

"I'm not a proper Montague. Monty and I share the same father, but I have no idea who my mother is. Quite the scandal, it was the head of the Montague family cheating, and I'm the bastard reminder. Although that didn't make a difference. All members of the Montagues still have to go through the trials."

"Trials?"

"Yeah, trials which make you an official member of the Montague house. Passing gets your name in the family, and you are given powers."

"Wait they give you powers? Is that how Monty and the others got theirs?"

"More or less. I was already born with mine, but Monty was given his powers, he's had them when he passed the trials when he turned thirteen."

"To think you can't be a part of a family you are born into unless you pass some stupid trial." Percy debates. "Sounds horrible."

"What happens to the people who don't pass?" Gale questioned.

"What will happen to me, they get outcasted from home and their name stripped alongside their powers if they had any. They only accept the best in their family."

"Is that what Monty was so worked up about then?"

Emil nodded, cupping his hands together. "Yeah, after that fight with you four months back Monty was walking on thin ice. He had to prove to himself that he deserves to keep the family name otherwise…"

"He'll end up like you." Alton sighed. "Even for Monty, that's fucked up. Being thrown out of your family just because you aren't good enough."

"It's hard being a Montague, you always have to be the best, fall behind, and you're left behind. But if you manage to stay on their level, you will become rich and famous, unlike anything you could imagine."

"Can anyone take part in these trials?" Zinnia said, intrigued by the matter.

"If you're thinking of taking part, don't. They come to you if they believe you have what it takes. But yes, there are people in the family who aren't Montagues at all." 

"What about you, then?"

Emil smirked standing up playing off the whole matter. "What about me? I'll be just fine. I'm more than competent in looking after myself. I'll make it into the big leagues without them." Emil turned around, hiding his face as he laughed, placing his hands on his hips. "If you noobs expect an apology for what happened you can blow me. I don't regret a damn thing! Haha…"

Each of the members of Rhapsody looked at each other deflated as Alton scratched his neck. "If you want, you can join us?"

"You what?" He blabbered, looking over his shoulders. "You'll thick or something? After I tried tearing your little band of merry men apart and I was willing to let… one of you die, you expect me to believe you want me apart of your little squad? You lot are noobs, aren't you."

"Hey, it's not the first time we've had someone on our team who tried to kill us. Gale here was a stream sniper, when we first met, he was more than happy to kill us for his little clique revenge subplot."

"Nothing clique about wanting justice for my gran's death thank you very much, moreover I quite like cliques, they wouldn't be cliques if they weren't good."

Emil turned around still confused by the ordeal rubbing his skinhead. "Just who the hell are you people?"

Zinnia looked at everyone before looking back, smiling. "Just a bunch of misfits and friends who want to make a difference."

"Ha, so you are thick…" He mumbled, placing both hands in his pockets. "Yeah, I'd rather not. Rather not throw away all of my pride in one day… I'm going to get a drink."

Emil walked off sulking to himself as Zinnia frowned slightly looking confused. "I thought he was going to say yes…"

Alton sat down, taking a long sip of his drink shrugging his shoulders. "Can't have everyone agree with us. We should focus on our streams and be grateful we didn't get banned for the shit you pulled."

"Luckily I pulled the stream the moment we saw your little crusade. Claimed we were hacked and now we are mostly in the clear for now. Don't go all thanking me at once." Percy boasted.

Gale folded his arms, watching Emil as he smirked. "Don't get too ahead of yourself Zinnia, he's going to join us."

"Huh? What makes you say that?"

"Just watch."

Before they knew it, the poorly dressed boy slowly walked back with a drink as he leaned forward on the chairs slurping it through a straw. He let out a deep breath licking his lips. "So, you noobs go around cancelling dodgy streamers? You like the V.I.R.A.L Cops or something." 

"No, think bigger! We are superheroes!" Zinnia yelled proudly raising her arms in the air.

"Cute." He replied, putting his drink down. "If I'm joining your boyband there's going to be none of this superhero shit. I'm only doing this for the fame and fortune and to get back at Monty. I'm not becoming some protector of justice. I could give two shits what the other streamers are doing unless it affects me personally."

"That's fine. Truth be told that's more or less the reason I'm apart of this streaming gig. Minus the whole fame bullshit. I'm just here to make money and get back at Monty." Zinnia pouted at Alton's words as he rolled his eyes, adding on a forced last part. "And to make friends…"

"I hear ya, can't be apart of a streaming group if you hate their guts. Are you still sure you want someone like me? I'm no causal noob? I will try hard this shit into next week. I cannot take second place, and I refuse to back down from a fight."

Alton shrugged his shoulders leaning back with a bland look. "I don't see why not. The more, the merrier Zinnia says. Besides to me, having a Montague on the team might have some benefits. You can give us the scoop on your brother."

"I see, so that's why you want me… beef on Monty. Although I can't exactly blame you."

"That's why Alton might want you. But I just want to be friends with everyone and make a difference in this horrible world!" Zinnia cheered getting Gale slightly rowed up too.

Emil shook his head tutting. "I can see why it's so contagious this hero shit. Well if you lot are dying to have a legend like me how can I say no."

"Just remember who knocked you the fuck out yeah…" Gale grumbled 

Emil gave a defeated look nodding. "I hear you… So let me give you a proper introduction only fair. The names Emil streamer name TR_Legend. I'll be looking forwards to taking the world by storm."

"TR? What does that stand for?"

"Test review I think," Gale stated.

Zinnia shook her head. "Nah it stands for Tyrannosaurus Rex."

"Oh, I got it… Tons of Refrigerators."

"Gale you're wrong! Obviously, it stands for Taco Robot."

"You dimwit noobs! Team Rhapsody, it means Team Rhapsody."

"That was my next guess." She pointed out. "Oh, but I love the idea! TR_Zinnia! TR_Dauntless! That sounds so cool!"

"We are not changing our streaming names to that we'll sound like a bloody competitive team." Alton barked shutting the idea down before it could even make any momentum.

"So, is this what you lot do, huh? Sit around acting like friends until you have enough beef on a streamer to go in for the kill."

"Basically. Awesome right!"

"You lot are the complete opposite when it comes to Monty's ideology on streaming. But I guess this isn't all too bad."

Zinnia stood up, grabbing everyone's glasses. "Then that settles it! Another drink for everyone! We celebrate the newest member of Team Rhapsody!"

"That's fine, and all but you'll have to pay for it."

Zinnia froze knowing all too well she was dead broke. Emil took out his wallet, counting a large stack of money. "I must insist this is on me."

"I thought you didn't want to apologise."

"I don't see this as more of a thank you. A thank you for saving me from that shithole known as the Montagues." Emil demanded grabbing all the glasses ready to go.

Zinnia giggled with a smug look staring at the large ward of cash. "I like this guy already!"

Zinnia rushed off with Emil to get the drinks as everyone else sat back smiling. "Got ourselves quite the family now, huh?" Gale stated. "Any more and this might get a little crowded."

"A few more couldn't help."

"Yeah, I guess. Next time can we get a girl? Too many men are cramping my style."

"No promises. Emil huh? He'll fit right in, I say. Another outcast took in by Team Rhapsody. A superhero, Vanguard fanboy, Stream Sniper and now a Montague. We sure have quite the robust crew, don't we? And I wouldn't have it any other way."