He’s suddenly struck with a deep-rooted desire to go back to a familiar boat, fall into soft bedsheets and let the gentle lapping of the waves against the hull take him… [break][break]

Torso wrapped up tight in gauze, looking very much like he’s wearing the beginnings of a straitjacket – feels as confining as one too, he imagines – Angelo stiffly pulls his arms through a clean, dry shirt. Not his. The t-shirt that he had pulled out of the drawer this morning had been ripped to shreds by Noivern claws, in its enraged bid to get through to his skin. Bloodied remains of cloth thrown into the trash along with a strip of dress used as a makeshift bandage. [break][break]

He’s more than happy to see the latter destined for incineration. [break][break]

What followed their return to land, where they were swiftly ushered off to a league medical facility, was a good amount of time spent biting back hisses and curses as his wounds were tended to. Angelo failing to keep his tongue still more often than not. Sensation of the slashes and puncture points across his body being cleaned, stitched and dressed almost as unpleasant as having them inflicted in the first place.   [break][break]

He exits through the examination room with a prescription for bedrest, exhausted shadows under narrowed eyes and a fumbling of fingers on shirt buttons. Angelo gives up halfway through, frayed attention instead pulled to the figure sitting right outside.[break][break]

Kyle is still there, coffee in hand and looking fresh-faced in comparison – Angelo doesn’t need a mirror to know he looks like shit. Although his friend’s knee does show proof that the champion had also encountered a scrape with death… [break][break]

“Hey,” his voice drawls, a little rough around the edges but not dismissing his presence. “What're you still doing here? Better not be waiting for me.”


[break][break]

+ kyle lopez [break][break]

Even when worn and weary, Angelo can’t help the small exhale of amusement that huffs out of his nose. [break][break]

“Fair.” He responds simply, hands casually tucking into the pockets of loose-fitting sweatpants when he steps before the champion. Foggy blues meet Kyle’s intense eye contact, unwavering. “I wouldn’t’ve waited for you, either... Might’ve at least brought you a muffin, knowing you’d just been through a gruelling check-up, though.” There’s a hint there, as unsubtle as the small teasing curl that appears on the corner of his lips. [break][break]

It fades quickly, habitual mischievousness chased away by something heavy that settles in the air; tension creeping through even the powerful scent of disinfectant. [break][break]

A weight of unspoken words – an acknowledgement of shared knowledge – seems to be communicated through the seriousness of fixed stares. [break][break]

Angelo doesn’t blink away from the champion’s gaze, returning his own right back as if issuing him a silent challenge of wills. Refusing to be the first to broach the subject. [break][break]

At least until Kyle chokes on his coffee. His spluttering momentarily breaking the tension that had begun to creep onto his shoulders, muscles loosening. Angelo raises an eyebrow, “alright, buddy?” [break][break]

Kyle Lopez is a survivor though. The courier doesn’t need to step in with life-saving slaps across his friend's back, this time. [break][break]

“Sure. I could go for a coffee.” Coffee does sound good. And if there’s no running from a conversation about the events that had transpired during the Sootopolis mission, then Angelo wanted to at least do it over some strong caffeine and a muffin... Preferably a lemon one.[break][break]

He walks in line beside Kyle, movements a little stiff and each step sending a dull ache along his muscles but yet he stubbornly refuses to fall behind. “Heard anything about how the other’s are doing?”


[break][break]

+ kyle lopez [break][break]

There’s a coating of bile on the tip of his tongue, bitter at the thought of those they’d left behind in the infirmary. The trip back to Sootopolis had not dispelled any of his distrust towards Anna Fletcher. [break][break]

“Fay? Isn’t she like… Twelve?” A brow is raised when they exit the medical facility and stroll into the Sootopolis sun, perplexed as he pictures the absent girl with the red ribbon. “Kind of difficult to believe a kid like that would be able to pull off the whole thing, don’t you think?”[break][break]

Angelo doesn’t doubt Skyler’s word. Plus, thinking on it in hindsight, the teenager’s behaviour on the yacht before it exploded had been a little strange. But still, it was an odd pill to swallow. [break][break]

Not as tough as the one regarding Melody Miro ’s state. That rock was still firmly stuck in his throat. Angelo had been meaning to bring it up to Kyle but speaking over coffee about a dead girl didn’t seem in respectable taste. [break][break]

“Bits and pieces,” he replies, as they walk into the cafe that has plenty more Spheal paraphernalia within, hands in his pockets and gaze pointedly fixed on the menu above the counter. Avoiding Kyle’s gaze. “Some kind of League exclusive club for Avatars, right?”[break][break]

It’s true that Angelo didn’t know too much about the AQUA Initiative. Only having caught snippets on passing television sets or idle gossip but he still knew enough to feel a weight settle in his gut. [break][break]

“What’re you getting?” He asks, casually. Changing the subject briefly. [break][break]

Usually, he’d scour the neat chalk cursive for something cheap but monetary issues seemed pathetic after everything.[break][break]

Angelo still goes for a standard, basic cup of coffee. Although he does treat himself to a muffin. [break][break]

He thinks he earned it.


[break][break]

+ kyle lopez [break][break]

Talk about the AQUA Initiative is put on hold for the time it takes to collect their orders and find some seats but no more. [break][break]

“Honestly…” Angelo has to swallow a grunt when he lowers into his chair opposite Kyle, sinking against the back as fresh wounds protest. His tone is matter of fact, nonchalant, as if answering what his favourite colour was. “I haven’t really thought about it much. Not like it concerns me. Doesn't come up on the day-to-day, you know?”[break][break]

And he really hadn’t. Why would he think about it? He's far too busy and uninterested to pay much attention to the news as it is. [break][break]

Blue eyes drift down to the muffin, peeling back a bit of baking paper to tear off a chunk from the fluffy top. Taking a moment to consider as lemon zest hits his tongue. “But I get why the public would be supportive of the idea. Bound to be a comfort to a lot of people after… Everything.” [break][break]

‘Everything’ being war and Rocket and general Hoennian life. [break][break]

There’s a lull then. Long enough for Angelo to lift his mug to his lips, about to risk a steaming sip… [break][break]

“Me?” He stills, followed by a muffled laugh against the rim of his coffee cup. Angelo flashing the champion a raised brow and a glint of teeth, as if he’d just coined an interesting debate for Spoinks being able to fly. “Come off it, Ky. The hell would they want someone like me for?” [break][break]

He’s a delivery boy. Here on a student VISA. Completely non-descript. Temporary. So far off the radar that he’s on another land mass altogether. [break][break]

At least, that’s how it was supposed to be… [break][break]

“It's not like she's mine.” He half lies, thankful his wavering smile is hidden behind his mug. A scalding sip is taken.[break][break]

When he brushes the pad of his thumb against warm porcelain, he imagines it as a cold dewy sphere, whispering a reassuring breeze over him…


[break][break]

+ kyle lopez [break][break]

An eyebrow is raised, uncertain as Kyle launches into his explanation. [break][break]

Somehow, Angelo doesn’t quite believe that the criteria of interest between a League Champion and a courier came from a ‘similar position’. But then, he knew very little about the AQUA Initiative as it was, let alone the depth of his friend’s circumstances…[break][break]

“So you're good, if, uh, that's a good thing for you."

[break][break]

Was it a good thing? Angelo wasn’t sure. [break][break]

There’d been a lot of things piling onto his shoulders within recent months to consider; rapidly and heavily, one after the other he can't take lightly. [break][break]

Paycheques to be sent back home, his own empty pockets, a fast-approaching college return and an eventual departure from Hoenn’s shores if he can’t find a permanent foothold here. skyler dross … A Soul Dew entrusted into his care. A Latias’s wish and newfound companionship. [break][break]

Now here Kyle sat opposite him in his usual carefree innocence, placing another slab of rock onto his back he’s not sure what to do with. [break][break]

If they came searching for him, drawn by his connection with the Eon Duo, would the AQUA Initiative solve some of his problems or just make new ones? [break][break]

“You tell me,” blue eyes peer up from picking at his muffin top, his cool façade slipping as his words come out on a sigh. Tired. “You’re the one with the exclusive membership. You'd know better than me if it's a good thing to be in or not.” [break][break]

There’s a pause then and his gaze becomes a little sharper, serious. [break][break]

He might not know what to do with himself – his future had seemed so boringly clear six months ago, now it was a muddied disturbed puddle – but there was some things Angelo knew he did not want:[break][break]

Another decision made for him. [break][break]

“So... Are you letting me know cause we're going to end up in one of those reports?” [break][break]

Are you going to tell them about what happened, Ky?

[break][break]

+ kyle lopez [break][break]

Angelo listens to Kyle’s points carefully, although it’s the mention of the ‘whole lot of money’ that makes his spine straighten, shifting with a wince as he sits up from his slumped posture. Interest piqued by monetary gains. [break][break]

“Huh... That doesn’t sound too bad. Do they have dental?” [break][break]

Kyle paints it as an easy picture, focusing on the benefits and gains that came with being ‘called upon by the League’. Whatever that entailed. Only the champion’s answer is vague, at best – surface level. [break][break]

There’s bound to be more to an official collective of Avatar’s and those that form bonds with legendary pokemon. More than what they can discuss over a table in a coffee shop, anyway. The League would not be so lax with the powers of the gods and the vessels that land in their grasp, surely? [break][break]

“Y'know, if it's not too difficult, mind sending more information my way? Figures, responsibilities, terms, whatever boring official stuff you can…”[break][break]

What PD he can scrape together sits high on his priorities, true. [break][break]

But what was he willing to sell to get the money he needed for his family and his own future? [break][break]

His rapidly increasing taste for freedom? Theirs? [break][break]

More information is needed.[break][break]

“Then I’ll think about joining.”[break][break]

He tears off another bit of lemon and poppyseed muffin, contemplating as he chews. [break][break]

“But if we could keep this to ourselves until then, you’d be doing me a hell of a favour, Ky. It’s… There’s a lot to digest. Today's been a trip.”[break][break]

Angelo hopes that Kyle isn’t going to end up in hot water, should someone find out about him purposefully glossing over details in his official report. [break][break]

Guilt, however, would not refrain him from grabbing hold of what semblance of privacy – or control over his circumstances – that he could. Even if Kyle had to bury information for him and he had to scavenge as much details about the AQUA Initiative that he could get his hands on prior to a reveal. Angelo would do what he could before he decided to glide his name, and theirs, over the dotted line or not. [break][break]

Fingers are brushed together then, wiping off crumbs with a crisp sound of calloused digits patting together, to signal a change in the wind’s direction. [break][break]

“Anyway champ, don't hold back. Lay it on me,” there’s a tap of a finger on the table, gesturing towards the bagel. Angelo’s lips curl into a tired, yet genuine smile – only partly joking. “How many of these do I owe you for doing this favour for me and little red?”


[break][break]

+ kyle lopez [break][break]

“Cool. Whatever you can spare helps me out...” A sip of coffee is taken, followed by a sigh of appreciation for the taste quenching his parched tongue and spirit. Shoulders relaxing somewhat as caffeine and Kyle’s information brings a slight easing of weight. “Just want to make the right decision, y’know? If I’m going to have a bunch of suits at my door someday, I want to know what I'm working with.”[break][break]

Because the man across the table was right; politicians did have a way of making you want to say yes. [break][break]

And his price was as predictably cliché as they came. If they blind sighted him with a flash of gold, Angelo was loathe to admit that they could potentially have him under their thumbs faster than they could snap it against their middle finger. [break][break]

Time. Information. That would give him the chance to weigh everything up without being purely swayed by pokedollar signs in his eyes.[break][break]

“I cook better than I pick out bread. Swear.” He grins, extending an invitation to pay Kyle back with a homecooked meal, should he be believed. [break][break]

It turns out the champion isn’t finished on dealing out more surprises, though. An arm is planted on the table and Angelo leans in, ignoring the sharp ache in his torso as he’s drawn towards a phone screen. [break][break]

“What’s that meant to be? An abstract Combee or something?” Blue eyes narrow as he points at a logo, head tilted to the side like a curious Rockruff pup. Graphic design is clearly not Angelo’s subject. [break][break]

When his gaze zones in on the actual content of the email, lips are pressed together in a thin line. There’s a small jolt down his spine as Articuno and Avatar and Death pops out at first glance. [break][break]

For a concering moment, Laurence Anderson comes to mind and the chill doesn’t dissipate when he scans over the warning proper. [break][break]

“Shit...” He breathes unintelligently under his breath. “I'll keep a look out while I'm on the road. If I see anything, I'll let you know.” [break][break]

...[break][break]

“You think it might be true?”[break][break]

Thank fuck he’s not an Avatar, then.


[break][break]

+ kyle lopez [break][break]