lulu had decided to get a motel room after a late mission, not having the energy to dive into the ocean again after the long day. sometimes, you spent all that you earned just to get through and make it to the next grind. there’d be no profit, today.

she made her way through a grocery store, headed to the back of it, to the freezer section. lulu wasn’t much of a cook, and she’d been living on frozen food for some time, now. fancy meals on a white table cloth were far, far in her past. her fingers curled around a cardboard box that showed a picture of something galarian and unadventurous, and she started walking back to the front of the store to pay.

then, she saw her. lulu hadn’t even entirely convinced herself of the woman’s existence, the evening they’d shared having become more of a surreal blur, looking back. captain skyler dross, her one-night, golden-haired, liquor-pounding kryptonite. she would have turned and walked for the far register, but then she remembered something. rinc’s coin. it had disappeared from her strap that night, on the boat. she hadn’t realized until the next morning, when she’d woken back up in the same motel she intended on staying at that evening.

she sighed deeply, unable to turn her back on the opportunity to find out if the woman had it.

cursing under her breath, the toes of her green boots turned in her direction and she walked, wondering if she’d recognize her from a distance. she wore a black hoodie—something she always wore, now. she really needed to pick up some better clothes. on that note, she needed a promotion.

striding up to her, with an almost smug expression that wasn’t quite a smile but teased at one, she raised her chin at her. “hey, captain.”