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"I don't see what the confusion is, Mr. Hal Gibson." Mandarin snapped, deliberately using his full name to annoy him. "I need the lab for a project I am working on, and all you have to do is get out of my way and let me do it. Is that so difficult to comprehend?" His accent got more pronounced when he was annoyed, which just helped to emphasize his insulting tone. "I know you're not familiar with the not-laboratory world, but it is this big big place without a wall or a ceiling. You'll have fun! Just go!"

Gibson glared at the orange monkey, used to such abuse from Sprx, but finding it far more irritating when given to him by Mandarin, he being far more abrasive in tone. "And I don't see why I can't stay to see what you're doing, you know what happened the last last time I left one of you alone in here." Ugh, the stench had remained for weeks afterwards, he wasn't about to make that mistake again.

"That was a complete accident, and it couldn't have been prevented by you hovering over my shoulder!" Mandarin snapped at him, rising up to his full height in an attempt to intimidate Gibson into going away. In was a fruitless effort, mainly because they were the exact same height, and Mandarin no longer had the authority to make Gibson do anything. "You know I hate it when people crowd me! Nothing will happen to your precious lab."

Gibson crossed his arms, not exactly appeased. "Then tell me what you're planning on doing, and don't lie to me." He had made some vague mentions earlier, but when he tried to get Mandarin to be more exact, the monkey avoided his questions. If it was simple enough, he would allow Mandarin to use his lab this once, if not, he would stay, it was that simple.

Mandarin was sorely tempted to fight Gibson, but it was that exact kind of over-reaction that had gotten him deposed as leader of the team in the first place. And he did regret his outbursts, after the fact, so he forced himself to fold his arms instead of unleashing his sword and shield. "...I am making a gift." He admitted with a grumble. "Happy?"

"Really?" Gibson was surprised. Mandarin making a gift for someone? "Who is it for?" He was honestly very curious, Mandarin never did anything like that, for anyone. Heck, the monkey barely ever apologized for being rude, much less giving gifts to others. Perhaps something had occurred between him and one of the others, something more severe than usual, and he needed to somehow make amends?

The orange monkey puffed out his chest and looked smug. "I think you can probably guess, Gibson." Mandarin's ruby eyes glinted as he leaned towards the blue monkey. "Who else? My boyfriend!"

Gibson sputtered, "A w-what? You have a boyfriend Mandarin?" He was surprised, "Who? I mean, it's probably someone on the team, you hate humans, which means any citizens of Shuggazoom are out of the question." He pondered to himself who it could possibly be, "Did you and Apollo finally make up then?"

"Apollo?" Mandarin looked taken aback. As far as he knew, Apollo hated him after he'd gone too far on the fierce monkey's training. "No! Not Apollo. And I don't hate all humans..." He smiled coyly at Gibson, expecting him to take the hint. After all, it wasn't as though they had been very subtle.

"...what." That was all Gibson had to say for several seconds. "That's not possible." Was what he followed it up with. "You and Chiro can't be dating. That's... impossible."

Mandarin tilted his head up proudly. "And why not? Clearly, Chiro is the only one here who appreciates me for what I am."

Gibson smirked, "Alright, besides the fact that appreciating you for what you are is impossible, because what you are is a horrible person; if Chiro's dating anyone, it's me. We just went out yesterday."

"...Excuse me...?" Mandarin's red eyes began to glow at that, and he was having trouble keeping his arms folded. "Chiro has escorted me out on the town more times than he has dragged you out of your lab!"

Gibson snorted, "Perhaps, but Chiro appreciates that I'm busy, and I've made my intentions clear enough towards him. Or can you claim something stronger? Because I doubt you can."

"I think our 'sparring sessions' put me in the lead!" Mandarin spat at him, annoyed that this was even an argument, no longer completely certain he was correct about his relationship with Chiro. "He seeks me out more often than he seeks you!" Which was just feeding back into Gibson's own argument that Chiro simply respected his need for space, but Mandarin had been thrown off of his rhythm.

Gibson wasn't exactly feeling comfortable either, realizing that he may not have made his intentions with Chiro 100% clear. Still, he was certain that he wasn't dating Mandarin, but he should really solidify the relationship. "If that's how you feel, perhaps we should go visit Chiro right now."

"Absolutely!" Mandarin snapped, his tail lashing angrily behind him. "I'm certain he will let you down easily!" He whirled around and began to march away, determined to find Chiro and put an end to this nonsense.

Gibson was right behind him, more than happy to see the truth revealed and for Mandarin to quit it with his delusions. If he had been aware of his feelings, he would have made a far more bolder approach towards their leader.

It was as they approached the main room on their way, that they ran into Antauri, who was making his way down the hall. "Ah, hello you... is something wrong?" He noticed the looks the two had on their faces.

"Nothing is wrong that will not be corrected momentarily!" Mandarin answered. "Have you seen Chiro?"

"Um, he was in his room last time I checked, why? Is it perhaps something I can assist in?" He knew that Mandarin often got into feuds with the others, but they were normally with either Apollo or Sprx.

"That depends," said Gibson, somewhat flippantly, "has Chiro been talking to you about who he's been dating?"

Antauri fell silent, "...pardon?"

"Who he has been dating! Who he is wooing! This fool says that it is he, but I know better!" Mandarin was almost hopping in place from fury, pointing accusingly at Gibson.

Antauri was silent for several more seconds before speaking up again, "...is this a joke?"

Gibson sighed, "I had a bad feeling that this might happen. Look, Antauri, I know you're very close to Chiro and that you'd probably be against any of us being in a relationship with him, but-"

"That is not the problem Gibson." He shook his head, "Well, it is, but not in the way you think. I, am the one here who is quote, unquote, dating, Chiro."

"..." Mandarin stared at him, wondering if fighting both of them at the same time would be as bad as just hurting Gibson. He considered his rational options, then tossed them out the window and sneered. "And here I feared the blue recluse was deluding himself, but it seems that Chiro was being lead astray by a trusted authority figure! Shame on you, Antauri. Abusing his trust and naivety like that!"

Antauri gave Mandarin an inquisitive look, "So you dating him would be fine, but if it is me, suddenly Chiro's trust and naivety are being abused? Your argument does not hold water Mandarin; but that is besides the point, I am the one who holds Chiro's affections."

Irritated, Mandarin turned to Gibson. "Has he not been behaving as a surrogate father figure? Was I just imagining all those times he mentored him and tucked him into bed?" Which was entirely beside the point, of course, but Mandarin was loathe to lose an argument against Antauri.

Gibson glanced between the two, irritated, "Although I think you're exaggerating, I can't help but somewhat agree with you."

Antauri shook his head, "Chiro is a mature young man, and I assure you we have been taking it very slow, I have done nothing to make him uncomfortable."

"Excuses!" Mandarin snapped. "And delusions, because I am the only one he views in that light. And the sooner we reach his room and ask him, the sooner you both can accept it!"

Antauri rolled his eyes as the two made their way off, Gibson following after a storming Mandarin. He decided he should follow, lest Mandarin take Chiro's rejection poorly. As they passed through the lounge, about to take the elevator up, Apollo and Sprx, who were spending their time there, saw them.

"Look, I'm not saying that it's a bad idea, just-" Sprx paused in his conversation with Apollo and glanced over at the three other Monkeys. "Don't look now, but it looks like Mandarin is on a rampage."

Apollo frowned. "Looks like a parade to me. Hey, guys! What's going on?" The two Monkeys hopped off of the bars they had been hanging from to approach the other three.

Mandarin scowled at them, refusing to answer and continued forward. They both turned to Antauri, confused.

The silver monkey sighed, "Mandarin and Gibson are both convinced that Chiro is in a relationship with them, respectively."

Gibson frowned, "Although Antauri is saying that such a claim is ridiculous."

Apollo frowned, while Sprx chuckled uncomfortably. "What? No no no... look, the kid is kind of shy about things, but he's definitely going out with me. Heh, sorry to break it to you all." Sprx straddled the line between sheepish and smug as he spread his arms.

"Oh no. No no no no..." Apollo put his hands on his hips and glared at the rest of his team. "Look, I have no idea where you all got the idea that Chiro was dating any one of you, but he and I are going out! I- Hey!" Everyone had already begun to hurry and rush after Mandarin, who hadn't paused in his angry stride to Chiro's room, and at some point it became a race to keep up with him, ending with the entire Monkey Team minus Otto crashing in a heap in front of Chiro's door. Weakly, Mandarin raised his arm from the pile and knocked.