[On Hold!] Joker of the Cards (Epithet Erased X F! Reader [Story])

Chapter 8-- Outstanding Move

"Heck yeah! Ho-ho! Nice work, Bear Trap!" Giovanni grinned as he hopped off the ground. "It's a good thing your energy recovers instantly after you win a battle! Speaking of-- Ace! Are you okay?"

(Y/N) walked towards Giovanni and Molly, an arm still hung around her stomach, the pain quickly melting away. "Yeah, I'm alright!"

"You sure? You looked like you got hit pretty hard there..."

"Do you want me to use my epithet on you?" Molly asked worriedly.

"Oh no, no, that's okay! I'm fine, really!" (Y/N) said with a dismissive wave. 

"Well, if you say so... Okay, I'm gonna mute that alarm before my misophonia drives me crazy." Molly nodded as she quickly walked back down the hall.

"How...?" The boy slumped on the floor lifted his head and looked at his hands, eyes wide. "I've never been defeated before!"

"Yeah, well that's just what happens when you mess with the Banzai Blaster elite!" Giovanni grinned boastfully. "Bear Trap, Ace, you're both promoted!" He pointed at (Y/N) and Molly, who was now walking back from the hall.

Banzai Rank: +1

"Yay!" Molly smiled with satisfaction.

"Wait, even me? I don't think I did much, though..." (Y/N) scratched the back of her head awkwardly. Giovanni's jaw dropped as he looked at (Y/N) with surprise.

"What do you mean?! You made all those cool explosions! That's pretty awesome if you ask me. You tried to take down Doctor Beef-dude with water like Bear Trap said-- don't think I didn't see that! You did some pretty awesome things Ace, you deserve this promotion!" 

"Oh!" (Y/N) blinked in surprise. "Um, thank you?"

"Don't mention it! But anyways, this promotion means that your membership fees have been upped to 100 bucks a month!"

"What?! Say sike right now, I'm too broke for that--" (Y/N) yelped.

"Yeah, I don't have that kind of money..." Molly said uncertainly.

"What?! Ace, I might understand, but your family owns a store! Doesn't that mean you're like super rich?" Giovanni asked Molly, squinting his eyes. Molly could only let out a humorless laugh before groaning and dropping her head a little.

"Feels bad, man." (Y/N) shook her head, resting a hand on her heart.

"Have to... tell the museum staff..." The boy drawled while slowly crawling away, catching everyone's attention. "Can't let you... take the amulet...!"

"Wait, what do you mean?" Molly asked, taking a few steps towards the boy. "That tour guide lady is the one who wants to steal the amulet, not us."

"Likely story!" The boy looked over his shoulder still crawling, making Giovanni scoff.

"I didn't come here for a stupid necklace! I came here for mummies and dinosaur eggs! Maybe a cursed sword that I could throw at girls or something?" Giovanni said, the last statement made (Y/N) nearly laugh as she clamped a hand over her mouth, a certain memory coming back into play.

"I didn't even know that thing existed until she was all--" Giovanni cleared his throat, and made his voice higher, trying to do an impression. "Ooh, I'm going to steal it and take your epithet! Ooh, look at me, look at me! Ugh! Jerk."

"That, and her and that buff guy radiate Yzma and Kronk energy so you kinda shoulda suspected some shenanigans." (Y/N) chuckled, earning a laugh from Giovanni.

"...You can't expect me to believe that!" The boy scoffed.

"It's true! They were digging through a bunch of museum property when we found them." Molly spoke, taking a step back. "And then they imprisoned us! She specifically said she 'wanted to steal my epithet.'"