Death Leopard punches Ladybug, annoyed.

  Ladybug smiles and approaches Death Leopard.

  “Guys, stop,” said Tophbee. “We’re on the same side.”

  “Nohoho we are not. I have NO IDEA why the FUCK I’m even helping you,” said Death Leopard.

  “Then leave,” said Inchworm, filing his nails next to Billy, asleep on the bed in comatose, and Gabrielle, hugging her but listening to the conversation, even flinching out of fear.

  Death Leopard smiles, smirks, activates his mech while stomping toward in Inchworm, and pushes Inchworm against the wall.

  “Make a move, cat boy,” smirked Inchworm.

  “Relax, both of you,” said Tophbee.

  “I never trusted you to begin with. I knew Beatle since high school. You… are nothing to him,” mocked Inchworm, shaking his head. “You will never be better than him.”

  Death Leopard tears up. “I know…”

  Inchworm’s eyes widened. “Didn’t expect you to say-...”

  Death Leopard punches the wall and Gabrielle hugs Tophbee out of fear.

  “Boys, chill,” said Tophbee. “Quit swinging your micropenises at each other AND CHILL… OUT…”

  Death Leopard turns and walks away.

  “What’s your problem anyway, huh? You’ve been cool with us for four years but the entire time it’s just to outcompete with Beatle!” boomed Inchworm.

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  “I know,” Ladybug filed his nails. “It’s as if he never cared.”

  “Don’t say that. DON’T YOU FUCKIN’ SAY I NEVER CARED!!! FINE!!! YES, I WAS ENVIOUS OF EVERYTHING BEATLE WAS!!!” Death Leopard teared up. “I was. I still am. Because he was good. I was beaten by my parents with a belt, but so did Beatle! And yet he stayed… Good… His father HATED him and he was raised by a good mother and aunt. SO WAS I!!! BUT HERE I FUCKIN’ AM, BEING NOTHING BUT A LOSER WHO DID NOTHING IN HIS LIFE EXCEPT CRY OVER SPILLED… Milk…”

  “You wanna change because you wanna be him?”

  “I WANNA CHANGE TO SURPASS HIM, MAN!!! OR AT LEAST JUST FIND SOMETHING THAT ISN’T… HIM!!! I hate him. Hated,” he articulated, looking out the window. “I hated… him… But I also kinda love him. In a sick twisted way. He was the one who kept me going. And after all that you know what he did!? HE BELIEVED IN ME!!! He believed that someone as bad as me could CHANGE!!! I wanna puke, but it also hurts in the chest… KNOWING that!!!” yelled Death Leopard. “My father hates me.” He shook his head. “He punched me when he learned I pushed Beatle to the brink. I kept doing it because he hated me doing that. He died without ever being proud of me.”

  “Same with Kuya,” said Ladybug.

  “Yeah… And he never asked for anything in return…” Death Leopard’s voice broke. “I HATE that… he is a good person. I really am trying. C’mon, just GIMME A DAMNED CHOICE!!!”

  “No,” said Inchworm.

  Tophbee yells at Inchworm. “I’ve known Beatle longer than all of you! Beatle gave me a bottle gift for my birthday when I was feeling down that no one ever cared for me, not even my Dad…”

  “So?” asked Inchworm. “What does that bottle have anything to do with this?”

  “BEATLE finds BEAUTY in ALL OF US!!! He isn’t immune to hating people! He isn’t! And he isn’t immune to annoyance or disgust! But he still sees that beauty! And if someone is trying to rizz himself up just FOR BEATLE, WHAT is wrong with that!? Inchworm!? Ladybug!?”

  “He killed people,” said Inchworm.

  “So did we,” said Tophbee. “With intent. But Beatle never killed WITH intent to do so. He ALWAYS, ALWAYS gave people a chance. So let’s just give him a chance, okay!?”

  “WHY!?!?” asked Ladybug.

  “BECAUSE HE’S DARKLY FUNNY, A TROLL, AN ASSHOLE, AND HE’S OUR FRIEND WHO AIDED US AGAINST MARS!!!“ boomed Tophbee. “Okay!?”

  Inchworm tears up. “Hey, man. I’m sorry,” he grabbed Death Leopard’s mechanical suit’s hand.

  “Okay,” said Death Leopard.

  Ladybug sighs and pats his shoulder. “I’m sorry as well.”