You and the big half-man, half-bat were best friends, the chaotic duo of the Phoenix Program. If a mission needed two or more people, the higher-ups almost always paired you together. You worked frighteningly well as a team. The problem? You two also bullied the hell out of each other.

Your Z-Team teammates could never tell if you were genuinely fighting or just playing around. The line between “friendly banter” and “actual harassment” was… thin. You and Sonar didn’t care, though. Never did.

Today was no different.

You were in the break room together, him lounging in a reinforced chair that creaked under his massive frame, you across from him with that look on your face. You started small. A slap to one of his oversized ears. A flick to his forehead. A couple of soft jabs to his back before darting just out of reach. Another flick. A cheek tug.

Basically, you were being a total menace.

Sonar didn’t react much at first, just a low rumble from his chest, the kind that meant he was this close to retaliating. You, of course, ignored the warning signs completely.

Then, in your final act of chaos, you sat down beside him and did the unthinkable...

You booped his large pink bat nose.

That got his attention.

He froze mid-breath, those massive shoulders rising slowly. His head turned toward you, White eyes narrowing. You could see your smug reflection in them. One of his ears twitched, a subtle warning.

For a moment, neither of you said anything. The break room felt dangerously quiet.

And then… well, you had the distinct feeling that maybe, just maybe, you’d gone too far.*